President Bola Tinubu has sparked widespread criticism after bypassing the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) to appoint Dr. Mainasara Umar-Kogo as the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
As reported by Politics Nigeria, the appointment, conveyed in a letter dated January 20, 2025, and signed by Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), was controversially backdated to November 27, 2024.
The decision has drawn backlash from legal experts and Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who described it as unconstitutional and a breach of due process.
Critics argued that the appointment bypasses the provisions of Paragraph 15 of the Fifth Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution, which stipulates that the FJSC should nominate candidates for judicial positions, while the NJC evaluates and recommends suitable candidates to the President.
Notable legal practitioners, including Professor Mamman Lawan Yusufari, Dr. Wahab Shittu, and Professor Yemi Akinseye George, have warned that bypassing this process threatens judicial independence and could set a dangerous precedent.
The controversy intensified due to ongoing litigation involving the National Assembly’s attempts to remove Justice Danladi Umar, whose tenure as CCT Chairman had not yet expired at the time of the appointment.
Critics, including human rights groups, have expressed concerns over the move, labeling it a potential step toward authoritarianism. They have called on the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to address the irregularities and restore constitutional order.
Justice Danladi Umar is widely recognized for handling high-profile cases, including the 2012 trial of President Tinubu over allegations of false asset declarations.
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