LPDC fixes October 15 to rule on petition against ex-CCT chair Umar for ‘assault on security guard’

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has fixed October 15 to rule on the complaint against Danladi Umar, former chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), over the alleged assault of a security guard in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

John Aikpokpo-Martins, a former first vice-president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), filed the complaint against Umar.

THE ALLEGED ASSAULT

In a video posted on social media in March 2021, Umar was seen physically assaulting a security man at the popular Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja.

In the video, the former CCT chairman violently kicked the guard before he was restrained and led into his car by police officers.

The security guard had told Umar that his vehicle was parked in the wrong space at the plaza.

In his defence, Ibraheem Al-Hassan, then spokesperson of Umar, said the guard was rude and could not provide a reasonable explanation why his principal should not park the car in the said space.

The video sparked outrage on social media.

At the time, the senate committee on ethics summoned Umar following a petition submitted over the incident.

However, he filed a suit challenging the power of the upper legislative chamber to probe the incident.

THE NOTICE OF DECISION

In a notice published in Punch Newspaper on September 25, the LPDC said the decision on the matter would be taken at the Body of Benchers complex in Abuja on October 15 by 10am.

The notice was signed by Daniel Tel, the secretary of LPDC.

The LPDC is the body established by law to handle disciplinary cases involving Nigerian lawyers.

Aikpokpo-Martins had told the body that the “unlawyerly and ungentlemanly” conduct of Umar in March 2021 brought the legal profession to “public disrepute”.

In July 2024, President Tinubu appointed Mainasra Kogo as the new CCT chairman to take over from Umar.

In November 2024, the senate and house of representatives approved the request of the president to remove Umar following Kogo’s appointment.

Section 22 of the CCT law said the president can only remove the chair or a member of the tribunal except with a written address by the house of representatives and senate.