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CCT’s Chair Goes to Court, Forces Senate to Drop Assault Case
The Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions of the Senate has suspended the investigation of the alleged assault on a security man, Clement Sargwak, by Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar.
The committee had sat for the continued hearing on the matter in Abuja on Tuesday, when the Chairman, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, ruled that the exercise be suspended indefinitely based on the legal action taken by Umar.
The Senate, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; the committee and the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), were joined in the suit.
Lawyer to the petitioner, Timzing Venyir Ramnap, however, protested against the decision by the committee.
Ramnap dismissed the originating summons from Federal High Court Abuja, which was forwarded to the committee by counsel for the accused, as mere court processes.
The lawyer said, “The document before this committee, as read out by the chairman, is not an order from any court but a mere court process served on the Senate. Were it to be a valid order from a court of competent jurisdiction, the Senate may back out. But since it is not, the Senate through this committee still has its constitutional powers on the case and can forge ahead with the investigation.”
Akinyelure, however, stated that efforts were being made by somebody to circumvent the probe, which would be challenged in the court.
He added, “This is a clear case of circumventing the constitutional powers of the Senate after submitting himself to us for investigation and begged for time to study the allegations made against him. He appeared at the first sitting, sought a week to study allegations of assault levelled against him. We gave him three weeks for that. Thereafter, at the second and third sessions, he sent representatives, that he could not come due to ill health; only for him to inform us through his lawyers at the fourth sitting two weeks ago that he was already in court.”
Recall that in the suit, Umar challenge Senate’s powers to conduct investigation and the purpose for which it is exercisable.
The CCT chairman, among others, asked the court to interpret the constitutional power granted the Senate or House Committees on Ethics and Public Petitions, and to determine whether it covered public assaults, which his lawyers argued, were part of the functions of the police and the courts.
The petition was brought to the floor by the Senator representing Plateau North, Istifanus Gyang.
Gyang had said, the petitioner, who was also the victim of the attack, Clement Kargwak, wanted the Senate to get justice for him.
The Punch
United States Representative Riley Moors has said further military strikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria could follow recent operations ordered by President Donald Trump, describing the actions as aimed at improving security and protecting Christian communities facing violence.
Moore made the remarks during a televised interview in which he addressed U.S. military strikes carried out on Christmas Day against militant targets in North-west Nigeria.
The strikes were conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government, according to U.S. and Nigerian officials.
“President Trump is not trying to bring war to Nigeria, he’s bringing peace and security to Nigeria and to the thousands of Christians who face horrific violence and death,” Moore said.
He said the Christmas Day strikes against Islamic State affiliates had provided hope to Christians in Nigeria, particularly in areas affected by repeated attacks during past festive periods.
According to U.S. authorities, the strikes targeted camps used by Islamic State-linked groups operating in parts of north-west Nigeria.
Nigerian officials confirmed that the operation was carried out with intelligence support from Nigerian security agencies as part of ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation between both countries.
The United States Africa Command said the operation was intended to degrade the operational capacity of extremist groups responsible for attacks on civilians and security forces.
Nigerian authorities have described the targeted groups as a threat to national security, noting their involvement in killings, kidnappings and raids on rural communities.
Moore said the strikes marked a shift from previous years in which attacks were carried out against civilians during the Christmas period. He said the U.S. administration was focused on preventing further violence by targeting militant groups before they could launch attacks.
U.S. officials have said the military action was carried out with the consent of the Nigerian government and formed part of broader security cooperation between the two countries. Nigeria has received intelligence, training and logistical support from international partners as it seeks to contain militant activity.
Moore had previously called for stronger international attention to attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria and has urged continued U.S. engagement in addressing extremist violence. He said further action would depend on developments on the ground and continued coordination with Nigerian authorities.
Nigerian officials have maintained that counter-terrorism operations are directed at armed groups threatening civilians, regardless of religion, and have reiterated their commitment to restoring security across affected regions.
World-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua on Monday survived a ghastly road accident in Makun, Ogun State.
Eyewitnesses report that the incident occurred along a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The vehicle carrying Joshua, a Lexus Jeep with the number plate, KRD 850 HN, reportedly collided with a stationary truck under circumstances that are still being investigated.
Joshua reportedly sustained minor injuries, while two persons were said to have died on the spot.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned that any attempt to hurriedly re‑gazette Nigeria’s new tax laws could undermine parliamentary oversight and set a dangerous constitutional precedent.
Atiku’s warning follows public scrutiny over reports that the Tax Reform Acts signed by President Bola Tinubu differ from the versions passed by the National Assembly. Lawmakers, including Abdussamad Dasuki, raised concerns that the alterations could pose serious legal and constitutional risks, noting that they were not backed by any constitutional framework.
In a statement on X, Atiku said the directive to re-gazette the Acts effectively confirms “that the gazetted version of the Tinubu Tax Act does not reflect what was duly passed by the National Assembly,” calling it “a grave constitutional issue.”
He emphasized that under Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution, a bill only becomes law after passage by both chambers, presidential assent, and gazetting.
“Gazetting is merely an administrative act of publication. It does not create, amend, or validate a law,” Atiku said, adding that any post-passage insertion, deletion, or modification without legislative approval constitutes forgery rather than a clerical error.
Atiku further warned that rushing a re-gazetting while legislative investigations are ongoing “undermines parliamentary oversight and sets a dangerous precedent,” stressing that the only lawful approach is “fresh legislative consideration, re-passage by both chambers, fresh presidential assent, and proper gazetting.”
The former vice president clarified that his position is not opposition to tax reform but a defence of constitutional order.
“This is a defence of the integrity of the legislative process and a rejection of any attempt to normalise constitutional breaches through procedural shortcuts,” he said.
The Federal government has denied wrongdoing, insisting the laws will take effect as scheduled on January 1, 2026, while the National Assembly has directed the issuance of Certified True Copies of the Acts to ensure clarity and accuracy.
