Former CCT Chairman Danladi Umar Faces Fraud Charges

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday brought former chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, to the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on fraud charges.

The EFCC claims Mr Umar took bribes from contractors who worked on various projects for the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

These contractors allegedly paid money to Mr Umar’s wife and covered school fees for his children at Baze University, according to the EFCC.

Kurchmives International Limited, a subcontractor for work done by Momanaf Global Ventures Limited at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, transferred N5 million to Zulaihatu Umar’s Zenith Bank account.

Portal Realities Limited, linked to JTF Global Links Limited, which was awarded the contract for digitalising the Tribunal's records, sent N6 million to Mrs Umar’s account.

The same company paid over N4 million in school fees for Mr Umar’s children, Faiza and Yakubu, at Baze University.

The EFCC stated that these actions broke Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

This section makes it illegal for public officers to use their position to give unfair advantages to themselves, friends, or family members.

If convicted, the punishment is seven years in prison.

Mr Umar has denied the charges.

After the charges were read, EFCC lawyer Christopher Mshelia requested that Mr Umar be held in custody.

In response, Mr Umar’s lawyer, Edward Sunday, reminded the court about the bail application he submitted for his client.

The prosecution confirmed they received the bail application around 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday and needed time to respond.

The trial judge, Peter Kekemeke, postponed the bail hearing to July 15 and ordered that Mr Umar remain in custody until then.

Details of the Charges

Here are the specific charges against the former CCT chair.

Count One

Mr Umar, you were the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. On October 5, 2021, in Abuja, you gave yourself an unfair advantage by allowing Kurchmives International Limited to pay N5,500,000.00 (Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only) to your wife, Zulaihatu Danladi Umar, through her Keystone Bank Account No. 6031167105. This payment was linked to a contract for painting the Tribunal’s headquarters. This is an offence under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Count Two

Mr Umar, you were also the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. On January 25, 2024, in Abuja, you allowed Portal Realities Limited to pay N6,000,000.00 (Six Million Naira Only) to your wife, Zulaihatu Danladi Umar, through her Zenith Bank Account No. 2085458208. This was for a contract to digitalise the Tribunal's management records. This is against Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Count Three

Mr Umar, while serving as the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, you allowed Portal Realities Limited to pay N2,043,916.88 (Two Million, Forty-Three Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixteen Naira, Eighty-Eight Kobo) for your daughter, Faiza Danladi Umar's tuition at Baze University. This happened on October 9, 2024, in Abuja and is an offence under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Count Four

Mr Umar, you also let Portal Realities Limited pay N2,043,916.88 (Two Million, Forty-Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixteen Naira, Eighty-Eight Kobo) for your son Yakuba Danladi Umar's tuition at Baze University on October 9, 2024, in Abuja. This too is against Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.