Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama on Thursday remanded former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, in Kuje Correctional Centre after he was arraigned on alleged corruption charges.
Justice Peter Kekemeke ordered Umar’s remand following his arraignment by the Federal Government on a four-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and receipt of undue benefits while serving as head of the tribunal.
According to the prosecution, investigations showed that Umar used his position to obtain personal benefits through contractors engaged by the CCT.
The government alleged that in 2021, he received N5.5 million through his wife’s bank account from a contractor hired to paint the tribunal’s headquarters in Abuja.
Prosecutors further claimed that on January 25, 2024, another contractor handling the digitisation of CCT records paid N6 million into the same account.
Umar was also accused of directing a contractor to pay N2.43 million for his daughter’s tuition at Baze University, Abuja.
The alleged offences are said to be punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
After Umar pleaded not guilty to the charges, prosecuting counsel, Christopher Mshelia, urged the court to remand him and fix a date for trial.
His defence team, however, applied for bail pending the determination of the case.
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 proceedings until July 15 for the hearing of the bail application and ordered Umar’s remand in Kuje prison.
