Alleged Corruption: Ex-CCT Chairman Danladi Umar remanded in Kuje prison

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday remanded former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, in Kuje Correctional Centre after he was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on alleged corruption.

Justice Peter Kekemeke ordered Umar’s remand after he pleaded not guilty to charges alleging that he abused his office for personal gain while serving as Chairman of the tribunal.

According to the Federal Government, investigations uncovered alleged payments from contractors handling projects for the CCT into bank accounts belonging to Umar’s family.

The prosecution alleged that in 2021, Umar 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 in January 2024, he received another N6 million through the same account from a contractor responsible for the digitisation of the tribunal’s records.

The Federal Government also accused Umar of directing a contractor to pay N2.43 million as tuition fees for his daughter at Baze University, Abuja.

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

At the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, urged the court to remand the defendant pending trial and to fix a date for hearing.

Counsel to Umar applied for bail, but the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) informed the court that it had only recently been served with the bail application and required time to file its response.

Justice Kekemeke subsequently adjourned the hearing of the bail application until July 15, 2026, and ordered Umar to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of the application.

Umar served as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and, on January 23, 2019, issued the ex parte order that led to the suspension of the then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Three days later, former President Muhammadu Buhari swore in Justice Tanko Muhammad as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria. 

Justice Onnoghen later resigned from office, while Umar subsequently found him guilty of breaches of asset declaration laws, ordering the forfeiture of funds in five bank accounts and his removal from the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

In 2024, the Senate removed Umar from office over alleged gross misconduct. 

The Senate cited petitions against him, allegations of prolonged absenteeism from duty, corruption allegations, and an alleged altercation with a security officer in the FCT.

The Senate also noted that Umar failed to honour several invitations extended by its Ethics Committee and was under investigation by the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Following his removal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated Abdullahi Usman Bello as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. 

Bello was confirmed by the Senate on July 4, 2024.