Ex-CCT Chair Danladi Umar Remanded in Prison

A former chairman of Nigeria's Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, has been remanded in prison after pleading not guilty to corruption charges. Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, ordered Umar's remand at the Kuje Custodial Centre on Thursday, July 9, following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The federal government, through the EFCC, brought a four-count charge against Umar, alleging he abused his office for financial gain. Prosecutors claim that in 2021, Umar received 5.5 million naira through his wife's bank account from a contractor hired to repaint the CCT headquarters in Abuja. A further allegation states that on January 25, 2024, he received 6 million naira, again via his wife's account, from a contractor responsible for digitizing the tribunal's records. The charges also include an accusation that Umar directed a contractor to pay 2.43 million naira as tuition fees for his daughter at Baze University in Abuja. The alleged offences are said to contravene the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.

After Umar entered a plea of not guilty to all charges, prosecuting counsel...