The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's authority to remove Danladi Yakubu Umar as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Justice James Kolawole Omotosho struck out the case on Tuesday following its formal withdrawal by the plaintiffs, who had initially sought to prevent the implementation of the Senate's resolution recommending Umar's removal.

The lawsuit was jointly filed by Community Rescue Initiative, Toro Concerned Citizens of a Relief Foundation, and Abuja-based lawyer Comrade Nasir Bala. The defendants included President Tinubu, Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and six others.

The Senate had, in November, advised President Tinubu to dismiss Danladi Umar over allegations of corruption and misconduct. This resolution was passed in accordance with Section 157(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which empowers two-thirds of Senate members to recommend the removal of the CCT Chairman to the President.

In their original petition, the plaintiffs had argued that the National Assembly breached constitutional provisions, particularly Section 157(1), Section 22(3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, and relevant paragraphs of the 1999 Constitution when recommending Umar's removal.

The plaintiffs had specifically sought to restrain the Clerk of the National Assembly from transmitting the Senate and House of Representatives resolutions to the President, and to prevent any executive action based on these resolutions.

At Tuesday's hearing, counsel to the plaintiffs informed the court of their decision to discontinue the case, noting that a formal notice of withdrawal had already been filed. Justice Omotosho subsequently dismissed the case on the grounds that the parties had already joined issues with one another.