The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, on Tuesday, gave the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, two weeks to defend a petition against him.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, issued the directive when Mr Umar appeared before the committee on Tuesday in Abuja to answer allegations of assault by a security guard, Clement Sagwak.

Mr Sagwak, a security guard, had through his Counsel, Timzing Ramnap, petitioned the Senate, accusing Mr Umar of alleged assault.

Mr Sagwak, 22, and an employee of Jul Reliable Guards Services Limited, told the Senate in his petition that he was assaulted by Mr Umar and a policeman attached to him after he informed him (Umar) that his car was not properly parked.

He said the CCT boss slapped him several times and forced him to kneel down in the presence of people  while performing his lawful duties.

Senator representing Plateau North, Senator Istifanus Gyang, laid the petition before the Senate on April 29.

Mr Umar, who appeared before the committee, asked the panel to give him one week to study the detailed petition which was served on him at the session to enable him respond appropriately.

Chairman of the Committee, Mr Akinyelure

said even though the Senate would proceed on a two-week break on Thursday, the Committee was prepared to reconvene during the break to hear the respondent, Mr Umar.

A viral five-minute video had captured Mr Umar landing blows on the guard at the Banex Plaza, in Abuja.

Mr Umar had in a statement denied the allegation and claimed that contrary to the content of a circulated video, he was a victim of an assault by people who chanted “secessionist and sectional slogans”. The claim has since earned him flaks from critics.