The immediate past Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, has been remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre after he pleaded not guilty to corruption charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
Umar was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on a four-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency accused the former tribunal chairman of using his position to secure financial benefits for himself through payments allegedly made by contractors to his wife and children.
When the matter came up for hearing, the prosecution, led by Christopher Mshelia, informed the court that the case was scheduled for arraignment. Umar subsequently took his plea and denied all the allegations contained in the charge.
Following the plea, the prosecution sought a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded pending the commencement of proceedings.
Defence counsel, Sunday Edward, urged the court to admit his client to bail, assuring the court that Umar would be available to face trial whenever required.
However, the prosecution opposed the immediate consideration of the bail application, arguing that it had only been served with the application a day earlier and needed time to respond.
In his ruling, Justice Kekemeke adjourned the case until July 15 for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that Umar be remanded in prison custody pending further proceedings.
According to court documents, the Federal Government alleged that Umar abused his office while serving as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and head of the tribunal's Tenders Board.
The prosecution alleged that on October 5, 2021, Umar caused N5.5 million to be paid to his wife, Zulaihatu Danladi Umar, by Kurchmives International Limited, a subcontractor involved in a painting contract awarded by the tribunal.
In another count, prosecutors alleged that on January 25, 2024, he facilitated the payment of N6 million to his wife by Portal Realities Limited, a company linked to a contractor that handled the digitalisation of tribunal records.
The government further alleged that in October 2024, Umar caused the same company to pay tuition fees of N2,043,916.88 each to Baze University for two of his children, Faiza Danladi Umar and Yakuba Danladi Umar.
The EFCC argued that the alleged payments amounted to corrupt and unfair advantages obtained through public office, contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The commission maintained that the offences are punishable under the same law.
Umar, who served as chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal for more than a decade, is expected to return to court on July 15 when arguments on his bail application will be heard.
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