Aggrieved staff of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) have maintained their allegations of misconduct against Chairman Mainasara Umar Ibrahim Kogo, following his response to a SaharaReporters story published on April 22, 2026. They accuse him of altering official records hours after the report's release, specifically in connection with the employment of his wife, Zainab Aliyu. Aliyu was appointed on Grade Level 08, Step 2, effective July 1, 2025, with an annual consolidated salary of ₦1,512,756.00 under appointment letter CCT/HQ/837/P/1. The staff say she remained on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) from August 2025 onward.
Kogo claims he disowned the appointment immediately and directed her to resign the same month she was hired. However, the staff say his endorsement of her resignation letter was backdated to October 14, 2025, though it was only processed on April 22, 2026—after the SaharaReporters publication. They say the Director of Finance and Accounts, Francis Ogar, had minuted the resignation request on October 27, 2025, making the prior date impossible. They allege this constitutes forgery.
They also say Kogo unilaterally conducted the recruitment of 66 staff in 2025, despite Federal Character Commission requirements for oversight. Over 85 percent of appointees, including relatives and close associates, are said to be from his region. Kogo has not denied claims that he vowed no one from his region would face sanctions during his tenure.
Regarding Ogar's appointment, the staff cite an EFCC report from April 28, 2025, alleging he participated in unlawful financial transactions involving conspiracy, fund diversion, and money laundering. Kogo cited the constitutional presumption of innocence but said he would sack Ogar if arraigned. The staff argue such a major appointment required the Chairman's approval.
Mainasara Kogo denies involvement in his wife's employment yet approved her resignation a year after claiming she left, raising questions about the timeline he provided. His backdating of the resignation endorsement, after the SaharaReporters story emerged, contradicts internal records and suggests an attempt to align documents with his public statement. If the Chairman did not authorize her appointment, it implies a breakdown in oversight at the CCT; if he did, the backdating becomes a serious ethical breach. Either scenario undermines confidence in his leadership and the tribunal's integrity.
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