Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, has dismissed the cases against three former Ward Councillors in the Kuje Area Council over alleged breach of asset declaration.
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) charged them, claiming they failed to submit their declaration forms within 90 days of leaving office. However, the councillors argued that they submitted, but the CCB rejected, citing elapsed time.
Justice Umar, flanked by other Tribunal members Hon. Agwadza W. Atedze and Hon. Juliet A. Anobor, ruled in favour of the defendants, stating that the issue was not non-submission but rather timely submission.
The CCT said the CCB should have collected and verified the forms instead of declining them. It also pointed out the distinction between failure to submit entirely and failure to submit within the stipulated time.
The tribunal emphasised that the Code of Conduct Bureau should have collected the forms for necessary verification and then allowed the defendants to explain the reason for the late submission.
The Tribunal further stressed that the legal action of the CCB was premature as the Bureau did not give the ex-officials the opportunity to explain the circumstances of the situation.
In delivering the judgment at the CCT courtroom, Justice Umar ordered the defendants to, within seven clear days, proceed to the nearest CCB office to declare their assets accordingly.
The chairman warned that a violation of the order by the former councillors shall be considered a severe criminal action punishable under the law.
