By Ayo Ayodele
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Yakubu Umar, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over an alleged N15.59 million fraud.
Umar, who also served as Chairman of the tribunal’s Tenders Board, was docked before Justice U.P. Kekemeke on a four-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, conferment of corrupt advantage and fraudulent financial dealings involving N15,587,833.76.
According to the EFCC, the former CCT chairman allegedly used his office to confer undue benefits on himself by directing contractors handling projects for the tribunal to make payments into bank accounts belonging to his wife.
In one of the charges, the anti-graft agency alleged that on October 5, 2021, Umar caused N5.5 million to be paid by Kurchmives International Limited, a subcontractor engaged in a painting contract at the tribunal’s headquarters, into a Keystone Bank account belonging to his wife, Zulaihatu Danladi Umar.
The commission further alleged that on January 25, 2024, he similarly caused N6 million to be paid by Portal Realities Limited, a sister company of JTF Global Links Limited, which handled the digitalisation of the tribunal’s records, into his wife’s Zenith Bank account.
The EFCC said the alleged actions contravened Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Umar pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel Christopher Mshelia asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in the Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial. Defence counsel S. Edward, however, urged the court to grant his client bail.
Justice Kekemeke adjourned the case until July 15, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and ordered that Umar be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his bail request.