A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday ordered the remand of former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, at the Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment by the Federal Government over alleged corruption and abuse of office. Justice Peter Kekemeke issued the remand order after Umar pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge brought against him by the government.
The prosecution accused the former CCT chairman of abusing his position by allegedly receiving illegal payments from contractors during his tenure at the tribunal.
According to the charges, Umar allegedly received N5.5 million through his wife’s bank account from a contractor who was awarded a contract to paint the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja in 2021.
The Federal Government further alleged that on January 25, 2024, Umar again used his wife’s account to receive N6 million from another contractor responsible for the digitisation of the tribunal’s records.
In another allegation, the prosecution claimed that the former tribunal chairman directed a contractor to pay N2.43 million for his daughter’s tuition fees at Baze University, Abuja.
The alleged offences were said to be in violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Following Umar’s not-guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, urged the court to keep the defendant in custody and set a date for trial.
However, counsel representing Umar applied for his bail pending the conclusion of the case.
The prosecution objected to an immediate hearing of the bail request, explaining that it had only recently received the application and needed time to respond.
After listening to submissions from both sides, Justice Kekemeke adjourned proceedings until July 15 for the hearing of the bail application.
The judge subsequently ordered that Umar remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings in the matter.