The Federal High Court Abuja has dismissed the suit filed by the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar seeking to stop the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from investigating his alleged public fight with a private security guard at a park in Wuse 11 Abuja.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja held on Tuesday that the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has power to investigate the alleged misbehaviour of Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal Danladi Umar being a public officer appointed by the President and whose appointment was confirmed by the Senate.
The judge said the reliefs sought by Umar in his suit was predicated on wrong interpretation of the law.
“I am unable to find any justifiable ground to stop the Senate from performing it lawful function,” the judge said, adding that the plaintiff case lacked merit .”On the whole I make an order dismissing this suit”.
Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, had physically engaged an Abuja-based security guard, Clement Sargwat, at Wuse 11 park over a parking space.
The guard helpless over police investigation petition the Senate over the public assult.
But Senate, like the biblical Pontius Pilate, washed its hands off the celebrated case of alleged assault the moment the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, filed the suit against it.
The upper legislative chamber, through its Senator Ayo Akinyelure-led Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition, halted further investigation into the matter after Umar in an originating summons challenged the jurisdiction of the Red Chamber and its panel to entertain the matter.
The CCT chair had approached court to determine if the lawmakers were not usurping the powers of the police and judiciary in initiating the probe.