On March 29, 2021, a viral video hit the internet, showing Umar assaulting a security guard, identified as Clement Sargwak at the Bannex Plaza in Wuse 2, Abuja.
The Nigerian Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has reopened the case of assault levelled against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar.
On March 29, 2021, a viral video hit the internet, showing Umar assaulting a security guard, identified as Clement Sargwak at the Bannex Plaza in Wuse 2, Abuja.
Chairman of the Senate panel, Ayo Akinyelure, who addressed journalists on the matter on Wednesday in Abuja, said the case against Mr Umar had been reopened.
The victim filed a petition against Mr Umar through his lawyers, asking the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to investigate the matter.
In his address, the chairman of the committee said: “There was a petition against the CCT Chairman that he assaulted a young Nigerian, Sargwak.
“The Senate believes that nobody is above the law. Both the young and the old voted for us to represent their interest in the National Assembly.
“The CCT Chairman infringed on the right of a young Nigerian who had no money to approach the court and brought his petition to the Senate.
“Rather than appearing before our committee, Umar went to court claiming that the Senate had no right to put him on trial.
“The Senate suspended the hearing on the matter till the outcome of the judgment. The High Court has now ruled the Senate has the right to continue the case.
“The Senate decided to reopen the case because it was a declarative judgment. He was to appear before us today but instead, came with court papers claiming that he had appealed the judgment.
“He has now told us through his lawyer that he will never appear before the Senate Committee because the matter is already before the Court of Appeal.”
“Instead of apologising to the victim and his family, and possibly settling the bills of their lawyers, he believes that he could use his position to suppress justice. We will never allow it,” Mr Akinyelure said.