Court Sends Ex-CCT Chairman Danladi Umar to Kuje Prison Over Alleged Corruption
By Victor Idajili
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama on Thursday ordered the remand of Danladi Umar, former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application.
Justice Peter Kekemeke issued the remand order after Umar was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a four-count charge of allegedly using his office to confer undue advantage on himself.
The EFCC told the court that in 2021, Umar allegedly received N5.5 million through his wife’s bank account from a contractor hired to paint the CCT headquarters in Abuja.
The Commission also alleged that on January 25, 2024, he received another N6 million via the same account from a contractor that handled the digitisation of CCT records.
In a third count, Umar was accused of asking another contractor to pay N2.43 million as tuition fees for his daughter at Baze University, Abuja.
When the charges were read, Umar pleaded not guilty.
After the plea, EFCC counsel Christopher Mshelia applied for a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant in custody pending trial.
Umar’s defence lawyer informed the court that a bail application had been filed and urged that it be heard immediately.
Mshelia objected, saying he was just served with the application and needed time to respond.
In his ruling, Justice Kekemeke adjourned the matter and fixed July 15 for the hearing of the bail application. The judge ordered that Umar be remanded in Kuje Prison in the meantime.
