Court grants ex-CCT chair Danladi Umar N100m bail in abuse of office case

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama has granted Danladi Umar, former chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), bail in the sum of N100 million over allegations of abuse of office brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Peter Kekemeke, who delivered the ruling on Wednesday, ordered Umar to provide one surety in like sum with proof of ownership of property in Abuja.

The court granted the bail application after holding that the prosecution failed to demonstrate that the former CCT chairman was likely to interfere with witnesses or obstruct the trial if released.

Justice Kekemeke subsequently adjourned the matter until October 29 for the commencement of trial.

The EFCC had arraigned Umar on a four-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, accusing him of receiving money from contractors through his wife’s bank account and directing payments for personal benefit.

According to the anti-graft agency, Umar allegedly received N5.5 million through his wife’s account in 2021 from a contractor engaged to repaint the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.

The commission also alleged that on January 25, 2024, he received another N6 million through the same account from a contractor handling the digitisation of the tribunal’s records.

In a separate count, the EFCC accused Umar of directing another contractor to pay N2.43 million as tuition fees for his daughter at Baze University, Abuja.

The alleged offences are said to contravene Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Umar pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Arguing the bail application, defence counsel Sunday Edward told the court that his client had cooperated fully with the EFCC throughout its one-year investigation, honoured all invitations extended to him, and complied with the conditions of the administrative bail earlier granted by the commission.

He urged the court to admit the defendant to bail pending trial.

Christopher Mshelia, counsel to the EFCC, opposed the application, arguing that the offences carry a prison term of up to five years upon conviction.

He also contended that some of the prosecution’s witnesses previously worked under Umar, creating a likelihood of interference.

During the proceedings, Justice Kekemeke asked the prosecution whether Umar had absconded after being granted administrative bail by the EFCC.

Responding, Mshelia acknowledged that the defendant did not violate the bail conditions but argued that the circumstances had changed following the filing of formal charges.

In his ruling, the judge held that the prosecution had not provided sufficient evidence to justify denying bail.

He reiterated that an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty and that bail should only be refused where there is credible evidence that the defendant is likely to interfere with witnesses, tamper with evidence, commit another offence or otherwise obstruct the course of justice.