President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, as well as the Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, led by Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe, included five other members namely Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Mr. Amioleran Osahon, and Major General Funsho Oyeneyin (rtd).
According to a release issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process.
After the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address the tension between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the 33-year-old institution.
The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process.
President Tinubu also approved the removal of Ohieku Muhammed Salami as the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State.
The decision followed Salami’s illegal actions, including suspending the vice-chancellor without following the prescribed procedures.
Despite the Federal Ministry of Education’s call for the unlawful suspension to be revoked, Salami refused to comply, instead, he resorted to abusive and threatening behaviour towards the ministry’s directors, including the permanent secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary responsibility of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of university activities in accordance with the act establishing each university.
President Tinubu warned the councils not to create distractions in their universities as his government is focused on improving the country’s education standards.
Also on Wednesday, President Tinubu approved the immediate swap of the Pro-Chancellors and Chairmen of the Governing Councils for the Federal University Oye-Ekiti and Federal University Lokoja.
In this reshuffling, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, currently serving as the Pro-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, will take over at Federal University Oye-Ekiti.
Kayode Ojo, who previously held a similar position at Oye-Ekiti, will assume the role in Lokoja.
This strategic change is part of President Tinubu’s initiative to foster diversity and national cohesion in the management of the country’s universities.
Senate authorises sack of CCT chairman over alleged misconduct
In a related development, the Senate has passed a resolution which authorised President Bola Tinubu to sack the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danlandi Umar, over alleged misconduct and negligence.
The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration and adoption of a motion titled: “Invocation of the provision of Section 157 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, for the removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”
The Senate after an hour executive session, resolved to “invoke and activate the constitutional provision as enshrined in section 157 (1).
The red chamber resolved to forward an address, supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate, to be acted upon by Mr. President for the official removal of Yakubu Danladi Umar, as the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The development, the upper chamber stated, would pave the way for the official resumption of Abdullahi Usman Bello as the new substantive Chairman of the Tribunal.
The motion was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC – Ekiti Central).
The Senate said that the action became necessary because Umar had allegedly “fallen short of the requisite standard of a public officer to conduct the affairs of such a Tribunal.”
The Senate also claimed that there are allegations of corruption and misappropriation leveled against the CCT chairman now being investigated by security agencies.
The Senate Leader in his lead debate noted that the Code of Conduct Tribunal is one of the key components of the Federal Institutions in the country.
It is saddled with the sacred statutory responsibilities of maintaining high standards of morality in the conduct of government business and to ensure that the actions and behavior of public officers conform to the highest standards of public morality and accountability.
He said that a statutory institution of such magnitude was expected to be an epitome of moral rectitude and should be seen to uphold the virtues of integrity, probity and accountability.
“However, the conduct of Yakubu Danladi Umar, who is the Chairman of the Tribunal, has fallen short of the requisite standard of a public officer to conduct the affairs of such a Tribunal.”
He expressed concerns that the Senate had been inundated with a series of petitions and allegations of corruption/misconduct against the Chairman.
He said that a situation necessitated the 9th Senate, through the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, to invite him to a series of its investigative hearings in order to unravel the circumstances surrounding those allegations.
Bamidele said, “However, he appeared before the Committee only once and thereafter avoided subsequent invitations.
“The Senate is also concerned about Umar’s alleged absenteeism from office for more than one month, without permission and recourse to his position.
“This is coupled with the preponderance of corruption allegation, misappropriation, and physical street brawl with a security man in the FCT vis-à-vis his current investigation by the EFCC, ICPC and the DSS.
“All these are tantamount to acts of negligence and gross misconduct, unbecoming of a Chairman of such a reputable Tribunal.
“Senate is aware of the series of overwhelming allegations against the Chairman, Mr. President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, forwarded the name of Mr. Abdullahi Usman Bello to the Senate for confirmation as the new Chairman of the Tribunal.
“The Plenary Sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 4th July, 2024, Bello’s appointment was duly confirmed, hence the need for the erstwhile Chairman to vacate the office for the substantive Chairman to officially resume office.
“Recalls that by virtue of the provisions of section 157 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, Mr. President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, acting on an address ‘…..supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct.
“Senate do hereby affirms that the invocation of the afore-mentioned constitutional provision in this circumstance, seems to be the only way out to safeguard the sacred image of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, in line with the resolve of the 10th Senate to uphold the rule of law and sustain the ideals of corporate governance structure in Nigeria.”
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Tahir Monguno explained that the resolution was approved by 72 Senators who signed the register at plenary and 10 others who were busy at committee meetings.
The Senate is composed of 109 Senators and it requires 72 votes to gain a two-thirds majority.
