There are indications that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) may reopen investigation into allegation of corruption against the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar. This new twist is coming after the Commission was reported to have cleared Umar of all corruption charges in 2015 and 2016.
For instance, on April 20, 2016 the Secretary to EFCC, Mr. Emamnuel Adegboyega Aremo, in letter to the SGF exonerated Justice Danladi of corrupt practices. The letter reads: “We will like to reiterate the Commission’s position in regard to this matter as earlier communicated to you and state that the allegations leveled against Justice Umar were mere suspicions and consequently insufficient to successfully prosecute the offence.”
Vigil360 gathered that Umar's acquittal of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki in a case bothering on false asset declaration did not go down well with the Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu who envisaged that the Justice Umar would either convict Saraki or prolong the trial in order to put him in checks.
Sources at the EFCC disclosed that Saraki's acquittal came to Magu as a shock. The source further held that Magu may be suspecting an underground power play involving Umar hence his resolve to teach him a lesson.
Magu's disdain for Saraki climaxed following the rejection of his nomination as substantive Chairman of the EFCC by the Senate under Saraki's leadership. The frosty relationship worsened when Saraki, during Dino Melaye's book launch attacked anti-graft agencies claiming that they were only engaging in media propaganda. The Senate President thereafter advised the agencies to carry out forensic investigation devoid of media trails before dragging suspects to court.
The allegation against Umar which the Commission seeks to reopen include alleged N10 million bribe believed to have been received by his Personal Assistant and the payment of N1 million from the account of CCT to sponsor his wedding.
Umar is also expected to answer questions regarding alleged purchase of N15.2 million Toyota Prado Jeep without recourse to due process; as well as award of N13.3 million contracts for procurement of office furniture and fittings.
The anti-graft agency has recently been losing corruption cases in court. The appeal court recently acquitted the former Chairman, Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security (PICOMSS), Air Vice Marshal Saliu Atawodi of misappropriated N600 million meant for the purchase of security patrol boats to combat illegal bunkering in Nigeria’s territorial waters.
The same appeal court equally cleared the former Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe of earlier found guilty of false declaration of asset and more recently the acquittal of Senate President, Bukola Saraki by the CCT.
