Fresh details have emerged of how former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, allegedly used his wife’s bank account and his daughter’s university tuition in a series of transactions that form the basis of corruption charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The allegations surfaced as a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory granted the former CCT chairman bail in the sum of N100 million pending his trial.
According to the EFCC, Umar allegedly directed contractors handling projects for the tribunal to channel payments through his wife’s bank account instead of receiving them directly.
The anti-graft agency alleged that in 2021, Umar received N5.5 million through his wife’s account from a contractor engaged to repaint the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.
The EFCC further claimed that on January 25, 2024, another contractor responsible for the digitisation of the tribunal’s records paid N6 million into the same account.
Prosecutors also alleged that Umar instructed a separate contractor to pay N2.43 million directly as tuition fees for his daughter at Baze University, Abuja, instead of making the payment himself.
The former CCT chairman has denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge bordering on alleged corruption and abuse of office.
On Wednesday, Justice Peter Kekemeke granted Umar bail after ruling that the prosecution failed to prove he would interfere with witnesses or obstruct the trial if released.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered Umar to provide one surety who owns landed property in Abuja.
The trial has been adjourned until October 29, 2026, when the prosecution is expected to begin calling witnesses.
