In a dramatic turn of events, Danladi Umar, former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), who once presided over some of Nigeria’s high-profile corruption cases, involving former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, has been remanded at Abuja’s Kuje Correctional Centre.
The order was handed down by Justice Peter Kekemeke at the FCT High Court in Maitama, following Umar’s arraignment by the EFCC on a four-count charge of using his position for personal gain.
Umar was alleged in 2021 to have used his wife’s bank account to collect N5.5 million from a contractor hired to paint the headquarters of the CCT in Abuja.
EFCC further alleged that on January 25, 2024, the defendant also used his wife’s account to collect N6 million from a contractor who handled the digitisation of the CCT’s records.
Also, the defendant was accused of directing another contractor to pay N2.43 million for the tuition fee of his daughter at Baze University, Abuja.
The ex-CCT chairman was said to have committed the offences punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecuting counsel Christopher Mshelia had urged the court for a day for trial and that the defendant be remanded at the correctional centre.
But Umar’s counsel informed the court of the bail application filed on behalf of his client and urged the court to take the application
But the prosecution insisted that they had just been served with the bail application and would need time to respond.
Justice Kekemeke adjourned the case until July 15 for hearing of the bail application.
Author
Leave a comment