Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman, Justice Danladi
Umar may face a fresh probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) over some allegations.
This is as the agency has re-opened investigation into
alleged N10million bribe Umar collected through his Personal Assistant, Ali
Gambo Abdullahi.
Although Umar had been cleared over the same issue over a
year ago, discovery of fresh clues was said to be responsible for the new
probe.
“The anti-graft agency is already probing some allegations
against the CCT chairman, including the alleged collection of a N10million
bribe and award of contracts. Some of these allegations were actually tabled
before the Senate and the House of Representatives”, a source told The Nation.
“The initial plan was to conduct the investigation during
the trial of the Senate President. But the EFCC decided to stay action in order
not to disrupt the judicial process.
“With the trial over, we are going to interview Justice Umar
on these allegations. The details include the payment of N1million in July 2011
from the coffers of the CCT to sponsor his wedding; alleged spending of
N15.2million to purchase a Toyota Prado Jeep ‘without following due process;
award of contracts for supply of office furniture and fittings in the sum of
N11.3million.
“The contracts were reportedly executed by a ‘supposedly
engineering company and not a furniture or supply company.
“Other allegations are alleged payment of N4. 2million for
the “purchase of welfare items” in a contract executed by a private individual
and another N4.2 million for the procurement of external light bulbs”.
Reacting, a source at the tribunal said: “We suspect foul
play because the EFCC cleared Justice Umar in 2015 and 2016 of any wrongdoing.
This latest probe may be the aftermath of the judgment of the tribunal which
discharged and acquitted the Senate President. I think the EFCC is after a
proxy war. The judge is a fair-minded person who has defied pressure to do his
job.
“While the trial of Saraki lasted, he has persistently said
he will discharge his duties without fear or favour because he will account to
God one day.
“The EFCC should leave this judge alone. Even until the
judgement was delivered, Saraki and his legal team were kept on the edge. This
is to show you the level of his fairness.
“The CCT chairman is not the accounting officer of the
tribunal contrary to insinuations. He does not award contracts. Both the Senate
and the House of Representatives investigated the CCT chairman on all these
allegations and nothing came out of the probe.”
The EFCC, in a letter to the former Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim absolved Umar of bribery
allegation.
The letter signed by its ex-chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde
said: “We refer to your letter ref. No. SGF.19./S.24/11/451 dated 23rd February
2015 on the above mentioned case reported by one Mr. Rasheed Taiwo (DCG rtd) of
6AB Milverton Road, Lagos against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal,
Justice Danladi Umar and his Personal Assistant, one Gambo Abdullahi.
“The complainant who is facing charges at the Code of
Conduct Tribunal alleged that Justice Umar made direct demand for the sum of
N10 million to quash the charges sometimes in 2012.
“He disclosed that he was compelled to pay the sum of N1.8
million after persistent inundation with phone calls from Justice Umar, who
received the bribe through the Zenith Bank account of one Ali Gambo Abdullahi,
his personal Assistant in December, 2012.
“Investigation was extended to one Hon. Justice G.A Oguntade
(Rtd) who confirmed that the complainant informed him in 2012 of the issues he
had at the Tribunal and the demand being made by Justice Umar. He disclosed
that Justice Umar denied the allegation when he called him.
“There are indications that the Tribunal Chairman might have
demanded and collected money from the complainant through his said Personal
Assistant.
“However, efforts made to recover the telephone handset used
by Justice Umar proved abortive, as he claimed that he had lost the telephone
in 2012. This has made it impossible to subject it to independent scientific
analysis with a view to corroborating the allegation.
“In the same vein, the complainant could also not make
available his telephone set for analysis on the grounds that he had lost it.
Justice Umar also admitted that he met privately with the complainant in his
chamber at the Tribunal. This is a most unethical and highly suspicious conduct
on his part.
”There is a prima facie evidence to however prosecute the
Personal Assistant, Abdullahi, who could offer no coherent excuse for receiving
N1.8million into his salary account from Taiwo, who is an accused person
standing trial at the tribunal.
“The full money has been recovered from him in May 2014 and
aptly registered as exhibit. The fact that he made two contradictory statements
on the reason he was paid the money, is clearly an attempt to cover up on the
reason the money was paid to him. He has accordingly been charged to court in
charge no. CR/137/2015 pending at the High Court of FCT, Abuja.
“However the facts as they are now against Justice Umar
raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully
prosecute him for the offence.
“Above is submitted for the information of the Secretary to
the Government of the Federation, please.”
Also, the Secretary to EFCC, Mr. Emamnuel Adegboyega Aremo,
in another letter to the SGF on April 20, 2016 exonerated Justice Danladi of
corrupt practices.
The letter said: “We will like to reiterate the Commission’s
position in regard to this matter as earlier communicated to you and state that
the allegations leveled against Justice Umar were mere suspicions and
consequently insufficient to successfully prosecute the offence.”
The CCT on Wednesday ruled that Senate President, Bukola
Saraki, had no case to answer in the 18-count charge against him over
allegations of false declaration of assets.
