EFCC Clears CCT Chair For Lack of Evidence

Justice Danladi Umar

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC yesterday gave a clean bill to the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice Danladi Umar from alleged corrupt practices stating that based on the investigation carried out by the commission against the accused, it was established that Justice Umar had no case to answer.

Justice Umar, was accused by a retired Deputy Comptroller General, Mr. Rasheed Taiwo , that he collected a N10 million bribe to quash charges in 2012 leading to his investigation accordingly. According to the allegation, the complainant was compelled to pay the sum of N1.8 million after persistent inundation with phone calls from Justice Umar, who he stated received the bribe through the Zenith Bank account of one Ali Gambo Abdullahi, his personal Assistant, in December, 2012.

In a statement by its Head, Press & Public Relations, Ibraheem Al-hassan, said it has cleared the accused Justice from guilt having failed to find substantial evidences to prosecute him.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has today conveyed a letter to the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Hon Danladi Yakubu Umar, exonerating him on the alleged N10million bribe by one AbdulRashid Owolabi, in his petition to the Commission with reference NO: EFCC/P/NHRU/688/V.30/99, dated 20th April, 2016.

“The letter from the Commission exonerating the learned Justice from guilt reads in parts,

‘‘Kindly recall our correspondence of 5th March, 2015, (reference EFCC/EC/SGF/03/56) with the above subject, please.

“We would like to reiterate the Commission’s position in regard to this matter as earlier communicated to you and stated that the allegations leveled against Justice Umar were mere suspicious and consequently insufficient to successfully prosecute the offence.”

“Today’s clearance letter was second to the previous one sent on the 5th March,2015 during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan through the office of the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Pius Anyim.

“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”, EFCC stated.