The chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice
Danladi Umar may face a fresh probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) over some allegations.
This occurred as the agency has
re-opened investigation into alleged N10million bribe Umar collected through
his Personal Assistant, Ali Gambo Abdullahi. Although Umar had been cleared
over the same issue over a year ago, discovery of fresh clues was said to be
responsible for the new probe.
According to our source “The anti-graft agency is already
probing some allegations against the CCT chairman, including the alleged
collection of a N10million bribe and award of contracts. Some of these
allegations were actually tabled before the Senate and the House of
Representatives”. “The initial plan was to conduct the investigation during the
trial of the Senate President. But the EFCC decided to stay action in order not
to disrupt the judicial process. “With the trial over, we are going to
interview Justice Umar on these allegations. The details include the payment of
N1million in July 2011 from the coffers of the CCT to sponsor his wedding;
alleged spending of N15.2million to purchase a Toyota Prado Jeep ‘without
following due process; award of contracts for supply of office furniture and
fittings in the sum of N11.3million. “The contracts were reportedly executed by
a ‘supposedly engineering company and not a furniture or supply company. “Other
allegations are alleged payment of N4. 2million for the “purchase of welfare
items” in a contract executed by a private individual and another N4.2 million
for the procurement of external light bulbs”.
In Reaction to this, a source at the tribunal said: “We
suspect foul play because the EFCC cleared Justice Umar in 2015 and 2016 of any
wrongdoing. This latest probe may be the aftermath of the judgment of the
tribunal which discharged and acquitted the Senate President. I think the EFCC
is after a proxy war. The judge is a fair-minded person who has defied pressure
to do his job. “While the trial of Saraki lasted, he has persistently said he will
discharge his duties without fear or favour because he will account to God one
day. “The EFCC should leave this judge alone. Even until the judgement was
delivered, Saraki and his legal team were kept on the edge. This is to show you
the level of his fairness. “The CCT chairman is not the accounting officer of
the tribunal contrary to insinuations. He does not award contracts. Both the
Senate and the House of Representatives investigated the CCT chairman on all
these allegations and nothing came out of the probe.” The EFCC, in a letter to
the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius
Anyim absolved Umar of bribery allegation. The letter signed by its
ex-chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde said: “We refer to your letter ref. No. SGF.19./S.24/11/451
dated 23rd February 2015 on the above mentioned case reported by one Mr.
Rasheed Taiwo (DCG rtd) of 6AB Milverton Road, Lagos against the Chairman of
the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar and his Personal Assistant,
one Gambo Abdullahi. Nigerian government reacts to ‘quit notice’ to citizens by
South Africans “The complainant who is facing charges at the Code of Conduct
Tribunal alleged that Justice Umar made direct demand for the sum of N10
million to quash the charges sometimes in 2012. “He disclosed that he was
compelled to pay the sum of N1.8 million after persistent inundation with phone
calls from Justice Umar, who received the bribe through the Zenith Bank account
of one Ali Gambo Abdullahi, his personal Assistant in December, 2012.
“Investigation was extended to one Hon. Justice G.A Oguntade (Rtd) who
confirmed that the complainant informed him in 2012 of the issues he had at the
Tribunal and the demand being made by Justice Umar. He disclosed that Justice
Umar denied the allegation when he called him. “There are indications that the
Tribunal Chairman might have demanded and collected money from the complainant
through his said Personal Assistant.“However, efforts made to recover the
telephone handset used by Justice Umar proved abortive, as he claimed that he
had lost the telephone in 2012. This has made it impossible to subject it to
independent scientific analysis with a view to corroborating the allegation.
“In the same vein, the complainant could also not make available his telephone
set for analysis on the grounds that he had lost it. Justice Umar also admitted
that he met privately with the complainant in his chamber at the Tribunal. This
is a most unethical and highly suspicious conduct on his part. ”There is a prima
facie evidence to however prosecute the Personal Assistant, Abdullahi, who
could offer no coherent excuse for receiving N1.8million into his salary
account from Taiwo, who is an accused person standing trial at the tribunal.
“The full money has been recovered from him in May 2014 and aptly registered as
exhibit. The fact that he made two contradictory statements on the reason he
was paid the money, is clearly an attempt to cover up on the reason the money
was paid to him. He has accordingly been charged to court in charge no.
CR/137/2015 pending at the High Court of FCT, Abuja. “However the facts as they
are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be
sufficient to successfully prosecute him for the offence. “Above is submitted
for the information of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,
please.” Also, the Secretary to EFCC, Mr. Emamnuel Adegboyega Aremo, in another
letter to the SGF on April 20, 2016 exonerated Justice Danladi of corrupt
practices. The letter said: “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.” The CCT on
Wednesday ruled that Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had no case to answer in
the 18-count charge against him over allegations of false declaration of
assets.