A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has ordered the remand of former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, at the Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment on corruption charges brought by the Federal Government.
Justice Peter Kekemeke issued the remand order on Thursday after Umar was formally charged with four counts bordering on alleged abuse of office and corruption.
According to the prosecution, investigations showed that the former CCT chairman used his official position to secure personal financial benefits while serving as head of the tribunal.
The Federal Government alleged that in 2021, Umar received N5.5 million through his wife’s bank account from a contractor responsible for repainting the CCT headquarters in Abuja.
Prosecutors further claimed that on January 25, 2024, he again used the same account to collect N6 million from another contractor engaged in the digitisation of the tribunal’s records.
In a separate allegation, Umar was accused of directing a contractor to pay N2.43 million for his daughter’s tuition at Baze University in Abuja.
The offences are said to contravene Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
When the charges were read, Umar pleaded not guilty.
Following the 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.
However, Umar’s legal team applied for bail, urging the court to release him pending the determination of the case.
The prosecution opposed the immediate consideration of the application, informing the court that it had only just been served with the bail request and needed time to study and respond to it.
Justice Kekemeke subsequently adjourned proceedings until July 15 to hear the bail application and ordered that Umar remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Danladi Umar previously drew national attention during his tenure as CCT chairman when, on January 23, 2019, 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 that order, former President Muhammadu Buhari swore in Justice Tanko Muhammad as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria on January 25, 2019.
Although Justice Onnoghen later resigned from office on April 4, 2019, Umar proceeded to convict him on April 18 over allegations of false asset declaration. The tribunal also ordered the forfeiture of funds in five of Onnoghen’s bank accounts and removed him as Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
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