Court orders ex-CCT Chairman Danladi Umar remanded in Kuje prison

Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama, on Thursday remanded former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, at Kuje Custodial Center for charges of corruption.

In making the ruling, Justice Peter Kekemeke remanded Umar after the Federal Government charged him on four counts of corruption and abuse of office.

According to the prosecution, investigation showed that former CCT chairman engaged in abuse of office in respect of granting himself undue benefits when he was the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The Federal Government claimed that in 2021, Umar, through the use of his wife’s bank account received ₦5.5 million from a contractor whose job was painting the CCT headquarter in Abuja.

It further stated that on January 25, 2024, he again used the same account to receive ₦6 million from a contractor whose work was the digitalization of records in the tribunal.

In another allegation, Umar was accused of directing a contractor to pay ₦2.43 million for his daughter’s tuition at Baze University, Abuja.

The offences are said to be punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

When the charges were read to him, Umar pleaded not guilty.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial and asked that a date be fixed for the commencement of proceedings.

However, Umar’s legal team applied for his release on bail, arguing that he should remain free while the case is being determined.

The prosecution opposed the request, informing the court that it had only just been served with the bail application and required time to respond.

Justice Kekemeke subsequently adjourned the matter until July 15 to hear the bail application and ordered that Umar be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.

Danladi Umar served as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and came into national prominence in 2019 when he issued the controversial ex parte order that paved the way for the suspension of the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Following the order, the late President Muhammadu Buhari swore in Justice Tanko Muhammad as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Although Justice Onnoghen later resigned from office on April 4, 2019, Umar subsequently convicted him over alleged false asset declaration, ordered the forfeiture of funds in five of his bank accounts and removed him as Chairman of both the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).