Court Orders Ex-CCT Chairman Danladi Umar’s Remand In Kuje Prison

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, at the Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment on corruption-related charges brought by the Federal Government.

According to Ireporter Online, Justice Peter Kekemeke issued the remand order on Thursday after Umar was formally arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and corrupt practices.

The Federal Government told the court that its investigation revealed that Umar allegedly exploited his position as Chairman of the CCT to obtain personal benefits through unlawful financial transactions. Prosecutors alleged that in 2021, he received ₦5.5 million through his wife’s bank account from a contractor engaged to repaint the CCT headquarters in Abuja.

The prosecution further claimed that on January 25, 2024, Umar allegedly used the same account to collect an additional ₦6 million from a contractor responsible for the digitisation of the tribunal’s records. He was also accused of directing another contractor to settle his daughter’s tuition fees amounting to ₦2.43 million at Baze University, Abuja.

The Federal Government maintained that the alleged actions constitute offences punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Umar pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read before the court.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel Christopher Mshelia requested that the former tribunal chairman be remanded in a correctional facility while also urging the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.

In response, Umar’s legal team applied for bail, asking the court to release him pending the determination of the case.

Justice Kekemeke subsequently adjourned proceedings until July 15 to hear the bail application and ordered that the defendant remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing.

Danladi Umar was removed from office by the Senate in 2024 after more than 84 lawmakers voted in support of his dismissal during a closed-door session. The Senate invoked Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers a two-thirds majority of the chamber to remove the head of a statutory body over allegations of gross misconduct.

The decision followed deliberations on a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who argued that Umar no longer met the ethical standards expected of the head of the tribunal. Lawmakers also cited several petitions and allegations of corruption and misconduct that had been lodged against the former CCT chairman before approving his removal.