A few months after being appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mainasara Umar Kogo, the Tribunal Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), has been accused of several instances of nepotism, abuse of authority, and administrative irregularities.
According to an exclusive by SaharaReporters, ENigeria Newspaper gathered that a number of documents pertaining to a number of alleged egregious misbehavior and blatant violations of the tribunal’s set regulations and code of conduct for judicial personnel.
Disgruntled tribunal employees accused the Tribunal Chairman of changing rulings made by the three-person panel during public court sessions in a confidential memo dated March 6, 2026, written to President Tinubu.
“At the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Mainasara Umar Kogo, as a judicial officer, owes Nigeria the duty to strictly adhere to the rules set out in the Code. Non-observance of these rules constitutes misconduct or misbehaviour. However, he has continuously failed and/or deliberately neglected to abide by the established Code”, part of the memo had read.
However, the report, as revealed by SaharaReports was unable to independently verify the claim that Kogo altered the Tribunal’s three-person panel’s decision as at the time of this publication.
The report alleged that the biggest highlight of the chairman’s misconduct was hiring more than 85% of his employees from his region and close associates, and has consequently been charged in the document of violating federal character rules. It was alleged that his wife’s sister and his brothers, namely Mainasara Abdulhamid, have all been employed by the chairman.
In addition, the report alleged that the tribunal chairman appointed his wife, Zainab Aliyu as an Administrative Officer II on Grade Level 08, Step 2, with an appointment letter dated June 16, 2025, citing CCT/HQ/837/P/1.
Her appointment began on July 1, 2025, and she was given an initial yearly consolidated salary of ₦1,512,756.00. Additionally, copies of her pay stubs were acquired.
However, SaharaReporters claimed that sources said the CCT Chairman informed employees that his wife’s appointment was no longer in effect, though she has continued to receive her salary for over nine months now.
In addition, staff of the tribunal alleged that he broke the code of ethics by designating Mr. Francis Ogar as Director of Finance and Accounts, even though the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was looking into Ogar for allegedly selling CCT cooperative land illegally in 2024.
Despite a thorough report from the EFCC dated April 28, 2025, outlining the seriousness of the case, calls from the concerned staff members, and memos from the two members {of the Tribunal}, it is alleged that the Tribunal chairman has kept Ogar as the DFA. Ogar is reportedly still employed as the DFA as of the time this story was filed.
Umar Kogo Tribunal Chairman
Mainasara Kogo was sworn in as the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) by Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun of Nigeria (CJN), who emphasized that the Tribunal chairman should prioritize justice before personal gain.
According to her, the position requires “a person of great judgement, unwavering independence, and the moral courage to do what is right, regardless of whose interests may be at stake.”
Kekere-Ekun reminded the tribunal chairman that he is loyal to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the constitution, and the pursuit of justice, not to any person, organization, or authority.
