Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the remand of the former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application. The ruling was delivered on Thursday, 9 July 2026, following Umar's arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a four-count charge bordering on corruption and conferring undue advantage on himself while he served as head of the tribunal.
According to the charge sheet, the Federal Government alleged that Umar abused his official position by collecting funds from contractors through his wife's bank account. Specifically, the prosecution claimed that in 2021, Umar used his wife's account to receive N5.5 million from a contractor engaged to paint the CCT headquarters in Abuja. The government further alleged that on 25 January 2024, he again used his wife's account to collect N6 million from a contractor handling the digitisation of the tribunal's records. In a third allegation, Umar was accused of directing another contractor to pay N2.43 million towards the tuition fee of his daughter at Baze University, Abuja. The offences are said to be punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
When the charges were read to him, Umar pleaded not guilty to all counts. Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, applied for his remand in a correctional facility and urged the court to set a date for trial. However, Umar's legal team informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on his behalf and urged the court to consider it. The prosecution objected, stating that it had only just been served with the bail application and needed time to respond. After hearing both sides, Justice Kekemeke adjourned the matter until 15 July 2026 for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that Umar be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the court's decision.
Umar's legal troubles are not new to public attention. His tenure as CCT Chairman was marked by controversy, most notably on 23 January 2019, when he issued an ex parte order that led to the removal of a serving Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen. Following that order, the late President Muhammadu Buhari swore in Justice Tanko Muhammad as acting CJN on 25 January 2019. Although Onnoghen later voluntarily resigned on 4 April 2019, Umar proceeded to convict him on 18 April 2019 on allegations of failing to properly declare his assets. He also authorised the confiscation of monies in five accounts belonging to the former CJN and removed him as Chairman of both the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judiciary Service Commission.
In 2024, the Senate also sacked Umar as CCT Chairman after a closed-door session approved his removal. His latest arraignment by the EFCC represents another chapter in his legal battles, as he now faces fresh corruption charges over the alleged diversion of public funds. As the case progresses, Umar remains in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre, awaiting the court's decision on his bail application, which is now set for 15 July 2026.
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