Politics
Ex-CCT Boss Danladi Umar Remanded in Kuje Prison Over Alleged Corruption Charges – THISAGE
From Victor Osula, Abuja
A former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, was on Thursday remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre after the Federal Government arraigned him before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, on a four-count charge of alleged abuse of office involving N13.93 million in illicit payments from contractors.
Justice Peter Kekemeke ordered Umar’s remand after he pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court adjourned proceedings until July 15, 2026, to hear his application for bail after the prosecution sought time to respond to the motion.
The former CCT chairman is being accused of exploiting his office to obtain financial benefits from contractors awarded projects by the tribunal during his tenure.
According to the charge, Umar allegedly received N5.5 million through his wife’s bank account in 2021 from a contractor engaged to repaint the CCT headquarters in Abuja.
The prosecution further alleged that on January 25, 2024, he again used the same account to collect N6 million from a contractor handling the digitisation of the tribunal’s records.
In a separate count, the government alleged that Umar instructed another contractor to pay N2.43 million directly to Baze University, Abuja, as tuition fees for his daughter.
The Federal Government said the actions amounted to conferring undue advantage on himself contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Christopher Mshelia, informed the court that the defendant had been formally charged and urged Justice Kekemeke to remand him in a correctional facility pending trial.
Defence counsel, however, applied for bail, arguing that Umar was entitled to remain at liberty while standing trial.
Responding, the prosecution said it had only just been served with the bail application and required time to file a formal response.
Justice Kekemeke consequently adjourned the matter until July 15 for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the former tribunal chairman be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Umar’s prosecution comes years after he presided over one of Nigeria’s most controversial judicial proceedings—the trial of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.
On January 23, 2019, Umar issued the ex parte order that paved the way for Onnoghen’s suspension as Chief Justice of Nigeria. Acting on the order, then President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Onnoghen and, on January 25, 2019, inaugurated Justice Tanko Muhammad as Acting CJN.
Although Onnoghen resigned on April 4, 2019, Umar proceeded to deliver judgment on April 18, 2019, convicting the former CJN for false asset declaration.
The tribunal also ordered the forfeiture of funds in five bank accounts linked to Onnoghen and removed him as Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
Thursday’s arraignment marks a dramatic reversal for Umar, who once headed the tribunal responsible for enforcing the Code of Conduct regime against public officers but now stands trial on allegations that he personally benefited from contracts executed under his watch.
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