Ahead of Saraki’s CCT Case, EFCC Files Charges Against CCT Chairman

Ahead of Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Tuesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a two-count charge of fraud against Danladi Umar, chairman of the CCT.

In the charge sheet signed by Festus Keyamo (SAN), the EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, the anti-graft agency alleged that Umar demanded a bribe of N10 million from one Rasheed Taiwo in 2012.

Recall that in April 2016, the Senate President had argued through his lawyers that the CCT Chairman had a case to answer with the EFCC, hence, he was being coerced to conduct the trial in a biased manner.

Saraki, who spoke in Abuja in April 2016 through his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede dismissed the purported clearance issued to the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in relation to his alleged involvement in a N10 million corruption case. Oluyede further argued that the clearance purportedly issued to Umar by the EFCC cannot override the recommendation made in 2014 by the Attorney General of the Federation for Umar’s prosecution.

“We are not saying he (Umar) is guilty. We are saying he is tainted and that he cannot act independently while the EFCC that is investigating him and had indicted him is now prosecuting our client before him,” Oluyede said.

Now, ahead of Saraki’s case, the EFCC that once cleared Umar, has brought up a two-count charge that reads:

“That you, DANLADI YAKUBU UMAR, being the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and presiding over a case with Charge No. CCT/ABJ/03/12, involving one Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo, sometime in 2012, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did ask for the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) from the said Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo, for a favour to be afterwards shown to him in relation to the pending Charge (No. CCT/ABJ/03/12) in discharge of your official duties and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 12(1)(a) & (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2003.

“That you, DANLADI YAKUBU UMAR, being the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and presiding over a case with Charge No. CCT/ABJ/03/12, involving one Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo, sometime in 2012, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did receive the sum of N1,800,000.00 (One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) from the said Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo, through your Personal Assistant by name Alhaji Gambo Abdullahi, for a favour to be afterwards shown to him in relation to the pending Charge (No. CCT/ABJ/03/12) in discharge of your official duties and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 12(1)(a) & (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.”