Court remands ex-CCT Chairman Danladi Umar in Kuje Prison 

The former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, has been ordered to remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, by an FCT High Court sitting in Maitama.

Justice Peter Kekemeke issued the remand order after Umar was brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to face a four-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and conferring undue advantage on himself while serving as CCT chairman.

The Federal Government accused Umar of using his wife’s bank account in 2021 to receive N5.5 million from a contractor engaged to paint the CCT headquarters in Abuja.

He was also alleged to have received another N6 million through the same account on January 25, 2024, from a contractor responsible for digitising the tribunal’s records.

In addition, prosecutors alleged that Umar instructed another contractor to pay N2.43 million towards his daughter’s tuition fees at Baze University, Abuja.

The charges were said to be offences punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Umar pleaded not guilty to all allegations brought against him.

During proceedings, EFCC counsel Christopher Mshelia asked the court to allow a short period for trial preparation and requested that the former CCT chairman be remanded in a correctional facility.

However, Umar’s lawyer informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and appealed for the court to consider it.

The prosecution objected, stating that it had only recently received the bail request and needed time to respond.

Justice Kekemeke subsequently adjourned the case to July 15 for hearing of the bail application.

Umar, during his tenure as CCT chairman, handled several notable cases, including the trials involving former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.