An Abuja High Court on Thursday remanded the immediate past Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre over alleged abuse of office involving about N13.9 million.
Justice Peter Kekemeke ordered Umar’s remand after he was arraigned by the Federal Government on a four-count charge bordering on corruption.
The judge adjourned the matter until July 15, 2026, to hear the defendant’s bail application.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accused Umar of abusing his office by allegedly receiving money through his wife’s bank account from contractors handling projects for the tribunal.
According to the anti-graft agency, Umar allegedly collected N5.5 million in 2021 through his wife’s account from a contractor engaged to paint the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.
The commission further alleged that on January 25, 2024, the former CCT chairman received another N6 million through the same account from a contractor responsible for the digitisation of the tribunal’s records.
The EFCC also accused Umar of directing another contractor to pay N2.43 million as tuition fees for his daughter at Baze University, Abuja.
The offences are said to contravene Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Umar, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
At the proceedings, counsel for the EFCC, Christopher Mshelia, urged the court to remand the former tribunal chairman and fix a date for the commencement of trial.
However, defence counsel, Sunday Edward, prayed the court to admit his client to bail pending the determination of the case.
After listening to both parties, Justice Kekemeke ordered Umar’s remand at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre and fixed July 15 for the hearing of his bail application.
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