A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama has ordered the remand of former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Umar, in Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment on corruption charges.
Justice Peter Kekemeke issued the remand order on Thursday after the Federal Government brought the former tribunal chairman before the court on a four-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and corruption.
According to the prosecution, investigations revealed that Umar allegedly exploited his position as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to obtain financial benefits for himself while serving in office.
The Federal Government alleged that the former CCT chairman used his wife’s bank account to receive payments from contractors handling official projects for the tribunal.
One of the charges alleged that in 2021, Umar received N5.5 million through his wife’s account from a contractor engaged to paint the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.
The prosecution further alleged that on January 25, 2024, he again used the same account to collect N6 million from another contractor responsible for the digitisation of the tribunal’s records.
In addition, the Federal Government accused Umar of instructing another contractor to pay N2.43 million directly for his daughter’s tuition fees at Baze University, Abuja.
The prosecution maintained that the alleged actions amounted to abuse of office and constituted offences punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
When the charges were read in court, the former CCT chairman pleaded not guilty to all the allegations.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, urged the court to order Umar’s remand in a correctional facility pending trial.
He also requested that the court fix a date for the commencement of proceedings.
Counsel to the defendant, however, applied for bail, asking the court to release Umar pending the hearing and determination of the case.
The prosecution opposed the immediate consideration of the application, informing the court that it had only just been served with the defendant’s bail request and required adequate time to study and respond to it.
After listening to both parties, Justice Kekemeke adjourned the matter until July 15, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.
Pending that hearing, the judge ordered that the former tribunal chairman be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
Danladi Umar became one of Nigeria’s most controversial judicial figures during his tenure as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
On January 23, 2019, he issued an ex parte order that paved the way for the suspension of the then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Two days later, on January 25, 2019, the late President Muhammadu Buhari swore in the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Tanko Muhammad, as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Although Justice Onnoghen voluntarily resigned from office on April 4, 2019, Umar proceeded to deliver judgment in the case.
On April 18, 2019, the tribunal convicted the former CJN over allegations that he failed to properly declare his assets as required by law.
The judgment also authorised the Federal Government to confiscate funds in five bank accounts belonging to Onnoghen and removed him as Chairman of both the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
