Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed a suit challenging the removal of Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The dismissal followed a formal notice of withdrawal filed by the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs — Community Rescue Initiative, Toro Concerned Citizens of a Relief Foundation, and an Abuja-based lawyer, Comrade Nasir Bala — had jointly instituted the suit against President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and six others.
In November 2024, the Senate had called on President Tinubu to sack Danladi Umar over allegations of corruption and misconduct.
The resolution was adopted during a plenary session after a vote by the Senate, in which a majority supported the move.
The resolution was made pursuant to Section 157(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides that two-thirds of the Senate can advise the President to remove the CCT Chairman.
Following the vote, the Senate formally approved the resolution.
In their suit, the plaintiffs sought to restrain the Clerk of the National Assembly from transmitting the resolutions of both chambers to the President and to halt any attempt by the Executive to act on the resolution purporting to remove Justice Umar from office.
However, at the resumed hearing on Tuesday, counsel to the plaintiffs informed the court of their decision to discontinue the case.
A formal notice of withdrawal had already been filed and presented before the court.
Consequently, Justice Omotosho dismissed the case.
