CCT boss Danladi Umar not standing trial for alleged corruption, report says

The chairman of the code of conduct tribunal (CCT), Justice Danladi Umar, has been absolved of all the corruption charges against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), a pro- government Reputation Management firm, PR Nigeria claims.

According to the firm, the charge was struck out by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja following an order of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, SAN, who instructed the EFCC to withdraw the charge.

The AGF had argued that he was not aware of the charge filed by the EFCC through Mr Festus Keyamo.

Malami, in separate letters, reportedly queried the EFCC and Keyamo saying the purported charge against the CCT boss was mot authorised by him.

Copies of the letters dated February 16, 2018 were obtained by PRNigeria.

The letter received by the EFCC with Reference No DPP/ADV:368/15 was signed by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice Mr. Dayo Apata.

Therein, Magu was asked to explain what informed the filing of corruption charges against the tribunal chairman, having being cleared of corruption allegation twice by the same Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

It read in part, “The commission’s investigation report dated 5th March 2015 addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation stated as follows: ‘The facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the defence.’

“The commission’s position in paragraph 2(a) above was also maintained and sustained by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation while appearing before the House of Representatives’ Investigative Committee sometimes in 2015 to the effect that report of investigations showed that the allegations against Hon. Justice Danladi Umar were based on mere suspicions.

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“Kindly accord this letter top priority whiles your prompt response within 48 hours from the receipt of same is required in the circumstances.”

In a letter addressed to Keyamo with reference No DPP/ADV: 369/15, the AGF also queried his prosecution of the CCT boss .

The letter read in part, “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation hereby requests that you kindly furnish this office with the details of the instruction or authorization upon which you instituted the case under reference.

Kindly accord this letter top priority whiles your prompt response on or before Tuesday, February 20, 2018 is solicited in this regard.”

Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi who is standing trial before the CCT had in 2015 petition the EFCC alleging the CCT boss of receiving N10m bribe from him.

But the former chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde had exonerated the CCT boss from the bribery saga.

Consequently, the EFCC, in two separate letters to the Federal Government through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in 2015 and 2016 cleared Umar of the allegation.

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