By Our Correspondent
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama on Thursday ordered the remand of former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, at the Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged corruption.
Justice Peter Kekemeke issued the remand order after the Federal Government arraigned Umar on a four-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and corruption.
According to the prosecution, investigations showed that Umar allegedly abused his office by granting himself undue advantage while serving as Chairman of the CCT.
The Federal Government alleged that in 2021, he used his wife’s bank account to receive N5.5 million from a contractor engaged to paint the CCT headquarters in Abuja.
It further alleged that on January 25, 2024, he again received N6 million through the same account from a contractor responsible for the digitisation of the tribunal’s records.
The prosecution also accused Umar of directing another contractor to pay N2.43 million as tuition fees for his daughter at Baze University, Abuja.
The alleged offences are said to be contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
After the charges were read, Umar pleaded not guilty.
Following his plea, prosecuting counsel, Christopher Mshelia, asked the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility and fix a date for the commencement of trial.
Counsel to the defendant, however, urged the court to grant Umar bail pending the determination of the case.
Opposing the application, the prosecution informed the court that it had only just been served with the bail application and required time to study and respond to it.
Justice Kekemeke subsequently adjourned the matter until July 15 for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
Danladi Umar came into national prominence in January 2019 when, as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, he issued an ex parte order that led to the suspension of the then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Following the order, former President Muhammadu Buhari swore in the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Tanko Muhammad, as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria on January 25, 2019.
Although Justice Onnoghen later resigned as Chief Justice on April 4, 2019, Umar proceeded to convict him on April 18, 2019, over allegations by the Federal Government that he failed to properly declare his assets.
The tribunal also ordered the forfeiture of funds in five bank accounts belonging to the former CJN and removed him as Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
Court Remands Former CCT Chairman Danladi Umar in Kuje Prison Over Alleged Corruption
