N10 million bribery scandal: Presidency in dilemma over CCT Chair?

*EFCC retrieves N1.8 m to be used as exhibit
*Attorney General approves prosecution of Umar, removal from office

Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor
The Presidency is in dilemma over what to do with the embattled Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal,  Justice Danladi Umar, who has been embroiled in a N10 million bribery scandal, forcing the two other members of the tribunal to refuse sitting with him.
The two other judges of the CCT, Robert Odu rtd and Agwaza Atedze had in a joint letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan and copied to the EFCC, drew the attention of the government to the N10 million bribery allegation made against Umar, saying that the issue had brought serious embarrassment to them and the tribunal.
“May we with respect, draw His Excellency’s attention to the allegation of N10 million bribe made against Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, current chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja, which is being investigated by the EFCC”, they reportedly said.
This allegation has been widely reported in the media, besides embarrassing comments from legal practitioners who have been calling to express their disappointment over the shocking development, although investigation is yet to be concluded.
“We, the two members of the CCT and the entire staff are embarrassed and saddened by this allegation because a tribunal set up to check corruption should not be accused of being corrupt. This would not be in keeping with the transformation agenda of the administration.
“We are mindful of the fact that the Federal Government has zero tolerance policy for corruption, and this is the reason for the establishment of the CCT as one of the agencies to fight corruption in all its ramifications.
“It is our prayer therefore that this allegation will be looked into so that the tribunal can start sitting in the interest of litigants and their counsel,” the two members said in the letter dated April 4, 2014.

Danladi-Umar
Sunday Vanguard investigations spanning weeks indicate that although the Presidency has been embarrassed by the gamut of evidence adduced by key government officials against Umar, it was however handicapped by the fact that the said man is handling the trial of persons suspected to be corrupt.
It was learnt that the Presidency was however carefully studying the bribery case against Umar so as to take a definite and prompt action that would not tarnish the image of the CCT and the administration.
Confusion is said to have become the lot of the Presidency as to whether to move against Umar based on the advice of the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, to former President Jonathan, that Umar should be removed from office based on the scandal or to initiate a new probe of the bribery scandal.
Adoke was also said to have authorised the EFCC on June 25, 2014, to prosecute Umar and his PA based on the findings by the commission.
In the investigation carried out by the EFCC under its recently removed Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, Umar was alleged to have demanded and collected the sum of N1.8 million from one Rasheed Taiwo, a former Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, who was arraigned at the CCT over false declaration of assets.
To pave the way for the prosecution, EFCC crack investigators swopped on Zenith Bank, through which Taiwo allegedly paid the first tranche of N1.8 out of the N10 million to Umar through his PA, Gambo Abdullahi, and retrieved the cheque number and details of the transactions.
The Zenith Bank cheque for the amount of N1.8 million was issued by Taiwo Rasheed Owolabi on December 12, 2012 from his Bourdillon Branch on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, and received the same day by Gambo Abdullahi in his Usuma Branch, Maitama Abuja.
Evidence available to Sunday Vanguard also shows that with the payment of the N1.8 million into Abdullahi’s account, his balance in that account rose to N1, 900, 448, 41. The money was promptly withdrawn the same day by the Abdullahi, who told EFCC investigators that he handed over the cash to Umar by hand.

Buhari
EFCC’s findings showed that Umar used his telephone number, 08033367814 to communicate with Taiwo whose phone number with which he established constant communication with the CCT chairman was given as 08074455022.
Based on the findings, the former EFCC chairman, in a memo dated June 24, 2014, and addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation, Adoke, said that it was obvious from their findings that the CCT chairman might have collected the said amount of money from Taiwo.
The agency said however that it was unable to carry out forensic analysis of the telephone number of Umar, since he insisted that he had since lost that phone.
Lamorde said: “We write to bring to the attention of the Honourable Attorney General to the case which was reported by one Mr. Rasheed Taiwo (DCG Rtd) of 6 A Milverton Road, Lagos, against the chairman of CCT, Justice Danladi Umar and his Personal Assistant, Gambo Abdullahi in December 2012.
“Available circumstantial evidence suggests that the Tribunal Chairman might have indeed demanded and collected money from the complainant through his PA. Efforts made to recover the telephone handset used by Justice Umar have proved abortive, as he claimed that he lost the handset in 2012.
“This has made it impossible to subject it to independent scientific analysis with a view to corroborating the allegation.
Justice Umar also admitted that he met privately with the complainant in his chamber of the CCT. This has since been considered most unethical and highly suspicious conduct on his part.
“There is a preponderance of overwhelming evidence to however prosecute Gambo Abdullahi, who could offer no coherent excuse for receiving N1.8 million into his salary account from Taiwo, who is an accused person standing trial at the CCT.
“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 the reason the money was paid to him,” Lamorde concluded.
EFCC did not stop there.
The commission promptly raised a two-count charge against Dandali Umar and Ali Gambo Abdullahi. The charge sheet sighted by Sunday Vanguard, was signed by Andrew Akoja, of the Legal and Prosecution Unit of the EFCC.
Count one: “That you Danladi Yakubu Umar and Ali Gambo Abdullahi, being public officers in the CCT, Abuja, on or about December 2012 in Abuja, within the Judicial Division of the Honourable Court, did engage in culpable conspiracy to obtain the sum of N10 million from one Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi for a favour to be shown to him in connection with the discharge of your official duties and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26 (1) (c) of the ICPC Act 2000 and punishable under Section 10 (a) (11) of the same Act.
Count two: “That you Danladi Yakubu Umar and Ali Gambo Abdullahi, being public officers in the CCT, Abuja, on or about December 2012 in Abuja, within the Judicial Division of the Honourable Court, did engage in culpable conspiracy to obtain the sum of N10 million from one Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi for a favour to be shown to him in connection with the discharge of your official duties and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26 (1) (c) of the ICPC Act 2000 and punishable under Section 10 (a) (11) of the same Act.
Findings, however, showed that although the case file for the two accused persons was prepared since June 2014, it was not clear why the EFCC later dropped Umar’s name from the charge sheet and took only his PA to court, where the matter is still pending.
The EFCC has remained silent on Umar till date.
An EFCC source said last night that the commission would not comment on a matter that was before a court so as not to commit contempt.
An attempt by Sunday Vanguard to speak with the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, proved abortive at the weekend, since his lines indicated that they had been switched off.
It was however learnt that the lacuna that has kept Umar in office till date might not be unconnected with the provisions of the law, which make it impossible for the President to remove him from office without getting two thirds majority support from the National Assembly.
It was also leant that the National Judicial Council, NJC, whose opinion on the matter, was sought by the immediate past government, had said that they had no hand in removing him from office but that the EFCC should thoroughly investigate the bribery allegation against him and bring him to book.
In a four-page memorandum written by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria to the Presidency on the issue of Umar, Justice Aloma Marian Mukhtar, made it clear that since it is the President who has the power to appoint the CCT chairman, it is also the President who has the power to remove him from office with the approval of the NASS.
The former CJN who headed the NJC said: “The National Judicial Council, on the recommendation of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, has no power to either discipline or recommend removal from office of the Chairman of the CCT to the President. Hence, the reason why Council was unable to investigate the allegations levelled against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar, Chairman of the CCT.
“It is hereby advised that in consonance with the Rule of Law, which is one of the cardinal principles of this administration, the case before EFCC against Umar should be allowed to follow due process.
“Since Constitutionally the Chairman of the CCT is not a judicial officer, the power to discipline and remove him from office, lies with the Presidency, please,” Mukhtar wrote on May 26, 2014 to the Presidency, washing off her hands.
But Mohammed Adoke in another memo to President Jonathan dated May 7, 2015, asked the President to set in motion measures to get Umar removed from office.
Adoke said: “That under the constitution your Excellency may remove the chairman of the CCT upon an address supported by two thirds majority of each House of the National Assembly praying that the chairman of the CCT be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office in question on grounds of misconduct or for contravention of the law.
“I am of the humble opinion that the current state of affairs in which the CCT is unable to sit while the institution is increasingly diminished by a pall of suspicion, should not be allowed to fester as it will expose the institution to public ridicule and undermine this administration’s effort to combat corruption.
“IN the light of the foregoing therefore, Your Excellency may wish to initiate the necessary steps for the removal of the CCT chairman from office,” the former Attorney General wrote.
It was learnt that the Presidency might soon take action and reconstitute the CCT to be able to assist the government in its anti-graft war.
A source said the continued stay in office of Umar with the corruption scandal hanging in the air was giving the Buhari administration a serious cause for concern.
How soon action is taken to save the face of the new administration remains to be seen.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/n10-million-bribery-scandal-presidency-in-dilemma-over-cct-chair/

chai

No hiding place for the corrupt Injustice Danladi Umar

Corruption everywhere, no one in this presence Nigeria can b trusted with the fight of corruption. Corruption is inbuilt in us all but usually manifest when u go into politics.

Its just a matter of time. I am optimistic, Nigeria will be great again.

I remember when this was mentioned people were like "Saraki Supporters", "PDP don't know about opposition" well enjoy your coffee.

chukwudi44:
No hiding place for the corrupt Injustice Danladi Umar

It's obvious why you are excited. .....

It won't stop Saraki's prosecution, CCT does not belong to Umar, he is REPLACEABLE. ..

Still doesn't negate the fact that he should be removed Asap if he doesnt recuse himself. ..

The president should have no dilemma, remove & reconstitute the Tribunal......

What a revelation.

Welcome To FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF CORRUPTION!!!

It was however learnt that the lacuna that has kept Umar in office till date might not be unconnected with the provisions of the law, which make it impossible for the President to remove him from office without getting two thirds majority support from the National Assembly.
The former CJN who headed the NJC said: “The National Judicial Council, on the recommendation of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, has no power to either discipline or recommend removal from office of the Chairman of the CCT to the President. Hence, the reason why Council was unable to investigate the allegations levelled against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar, Chairman of the CCT.
“It is hereby advised that in consonance with the Rule of Law, which is one of the cardinal principles of this administration, the case before EFCC against Umar should be allowed to follow due process.

Laws designed to act as checks & balances sometimes become bottlenecks...

“Since Constitutionally the Chairman of the CCT is not a judicial officer, the power to discipline and remove him from office, lies with the Presidency, please,” Mukhtar wrote on May 26, 2014 to the Presidency, washing off her hands.

Perfect illustration of no will to fight corruption & some crazies will insist on wailing all ovwr one's mentions in the face of obvious FACTS..

But Mohammed Adoke in another memo to President Jonathan dated May 7, 2015, asked the President to set in motion measures to get Umar removed from office.
Adoke said: “That under the constitution your Excellency may remove the chairman of the CCT upon an address supported by two thirds majority of each House of the National Assembly praying that the chairman of the CCT be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office in question on grounds of misconduct or for contravention of the law...
“IN the light of the foregoing therefore, Your Excellency may wish to initiate the necessary steps for the removal of the CCT chairman from office,” the former Attorney General wrote..

Umar is not fit to try Saraki, equity & clean hands no go gree, no two ways about it..

Chukwudi, you think this is going to stop the trial of Saraki? As always, I pity you.

Na wah oo.. When the hunter becomes the hunted...

This is why some of us were angry with GEJ, he knew this CCT chair was corrupt, he was adviced to write to the national assembly to get their two third approval but the Niggar did not . GEJ might not have been corrupt, but he lacked the will power to tackle corruption

Corruption trying to fight corruption, it can only happen in naija...SMH

tobimillar:
Na wah oo.. When the hunter becomes the hunted...

This is why some of us were angry with GEJ, he knew this CCT chair was corrupt, he was adviced to write to the national assembly to get their two third approval but the Niggar did not . GEJ was might not have been corrupt, but he lacked the will power to tackle corruption

Well said...

If Umar is found wanting, they should prosecute him immediately, there is no hiding place for corrupt individuals & impunity in this new dispensation, gone are the days.

But why all the fears and delay in executing judgement, when the evidence is there for all to see. A delay in bringing justice to a known corruption case should get the leaders resign, cos it puts a question mark on their integrity.

Saraki is seriously fighting back, now I wholly agree to the slang that "if you fight corruption, corruption fights back" If Umar hasn't gone to equity with clean hands, he should leave , Nigeria has more than a million and one people who can head CCT, and for Saraki? they will get you.

OrlandoOwoh:
Chukwudi, you think this is going to stop the trial of Saraki? As always, I pity you.

Bros sharraap!! What has this got to do with Saraki? We are talking about a very corrupt Judge sitting in a very sensitive position and you are here mentioning Saraki!!! Was Saraki the one who asked him to demand N10 million bribe in 2014?

modath:



It's obvious why you are excited. .....

It won't stop Saraki's prosecution, CCT does not belong to Umar, he is REPLACEABLE. ..

Still doesn't negate the fact that he should be removed Asap if he doesnt recuse himself. ..

The president should have no dilemma, remove & reconstitute the Tribunal......

They should go ahead and remove the injustic Umar and quickly forward the name of the new CCT chair to the senate for approval

chukwudi44:


Bros sharraap!! What has this got to do with Saraki? We are talking about a very corrupt Judge sitting in a very sensitive position and you are here mentioning Saraki!!! Was Saraki the one who asked him to demand N10 million bribe in 2014?

Shut up! Who doesn't know that your concern in this issue is because of Saraki?

Bambless1:
Welcome To FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF CORRUPTION!!!

aka BuhariSTAN.


www.nairaland.com/attachments/2837264_tmp9455fbimg14417792614671224457852_jpeg6dab6ee28b2554beeaa4f34b3a1f7675





www.nairaland.com/attachments/2827707_img20150905142543_jpegffcefa9483529d6999254d5bf1b3a54e

OrlandoOwoh:

Shut up! Who doesn't know that your concern in this issue is because of Saraki?

Will you also shut up!!! Who dosent also know you support the Injustice Umar because of Saraki

modath:



It's obvious why you are excited. .....

It won't stop Saraki's prosecution, CCT does not belong to Umar, he is REPLACEABLE. ..

Still doesn't negate the fact that he should be removed Asap if he doesnt recuse himself. ..

The president should have no dilemma, remove & reconstitute the Tribunal......

Modaft, Modaft, dearest Modaft! How many times did I call you?

Its so unfortunate dat instead of facing trial Nigrian will alway come with one excuse or de other. Dis is not new because it was de same way SANUSI was shown de exit door when he attempted 2 unveil corruption.

modath:


Laws designed to act as checks & balances sometimes become bottlenecks...

Perfect illustration of no will to fight corruption & some crazies will insist on wailing all ovwr one's mentions in the face of obvious FACTS..

Umar is not fit to try Saraki, equity & clean hands no go gree, no two ways about it..

So you now term me a crazy!?

francizy:


Mo,Mo, dearest Mo How many times did I call you?

Fran-shitty, Fran-shitty, My one & only Fran-shitty... Go back to bed or prepare for Mass or you can even go & play with that your new toy car, Adults that are having a conversation here..

modath:


Fran-shitty, Fran-shitty, Fran-shitty... Go back to bed or prepare for Mass or you can even go & play with that your new toy car, Adults that are having a conversation here..

And you're an adult?

Shey na because 19 years old marry on time na im she go dey claim adult?

Nelson05:
Its so unfortunate dat instead of facing trial Nigrian will alway come with one excuse or de other. Dis is not new because it was de same way SANUSI was shown de exit door when he attempted 2 unveil corruption.

Another MISGUIDED and MISINFORMED zombie dullard spotted.

Sanusi was diverting attention from his own corruption palava at CBN, which VP Osinbajo arranged court protection to stop the probe.

barcanista:
Since I was born, I have never witness the kind of hypocrisy, double standard and demonisation that is currently perpetrated by Muhammadu Buhari, the APC, Alhaji Sanusi, Osinbajo and their "good governance crusaders" against the person of President Goodluck Jonathan, Allison Madekwe, and other government officials.

Alhajis Buhari and Sanusi and APC have been going about using every platform to talk about a "missing $20b", cheered by their hypocritical followers that pride themselves as good governance crusaders. They have deliberately gone blind over the fraud of CBN under Sanusi as outlined by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria report in February 2014.

Sanusi Indicted And Removed For Fraud
According to the report (see below) Sanusi was indicted for Gross Misconduct that bothers on fraud and financial recklessness among other offence. The FRCN subsequently advised Mr President to remove Lamido Sanusi from office for further investigation and probe after the explanation of Sanusi appeared more like a tale and outrightly illogical according to FRCN. The council indicates that the explanation provided by Sanusi is “a clear display of incompetence, nonchalance, fraud, wastefulness, and abuse of due process and deliberate efforts to misrepresent facts on the part of the leadership of the CBN.”

The council advised the President to exercise the powers conferred on him by Section 11(2)(f) of the CBN Act 2007 or invoke Section 11(2)(c) of the said Act “and cause the governor and the deputy governors to cease from holding office in the CBN.”


April 2014: VP-elect Yemi Osibanjo Filed Case To Stop Sanusi Probe
Rather than Sanusi to prove his innocence in court, he filed a case in Federal High Court, Lagos to STOP FRCN and Other Security Agencies from investigating and prosecuting him through three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, Dr. Kanyinsola Ajayi and Kola Awodien.
http://www.theguardianmobile.com/readNewsItem1.php?nid=24587

13 May 2014: Lagos Judge Tshoho Grants Sanusi Prayers
High Court Judge John Tshoho rather than uphold the constitutional powers of FRCN to investigate probe Sanusi, he granted the prayers of Lamido Sanusi and BARRED FRCN from further investigation or probing Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. In his own words...
“Prejudice is very pronounced in the language of that document. The language of the briefing note (transmitted by the FRCN to the presidency) conveys a sense of the defendant desperately goading the presidency to deal with the plaintiff,”
“The plaintiff submitting himself for investigation (by FRCN) is like the cockroach finding itself in the midst of fowls. Such a cockroach cannot be innocent,”.
http://www.tv360nigeria.com/?p=11923

Despite the fact the President Jonathan commissioned PWC to audit NNPC books to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of Sanusi's claim, Buhari, APC, Sanusi and their online agents that parade themselves as good governance and anticorruption apostles have been crying blue murder but refused to comment on the FRCN report nor the APC's VP elect role in shielding Sanusi for probe.

April 26, 2015: Buhari's Display of Hypocrisy
In his usual hypocrisy, General Buahri vowed to re-visit the $20b allegation but said NOTHING about the FRCN report. In his own word... “Imagine a situation where the former CBN governor who by God ‘s grace would later become the  Emir of Kano raised an  issue of missing billions of money, not in Naira but in Dollars, $20 billion.
“What happened, instead of investigating to know whether it was true that the money was missing or not, they simply found a reason to remove him. So these are the issues we are talking about…"
Contrary to the lies of Alhaji Buhari, Sanusi wasn't removed because he raised alarm, he was removed because he was indicted by FRCN. Jonathan also never kept mute, he commissioned PWC to audit the books. Buhari was also blind to talk about prosecuting Sanusi for the CBN fraud. Perhaps the Emir is as "incorruptible" as him(Buhari)

[size=14pt]The FRCN’s report on Sanusi[/size]



[img]https://www.nairaland.com/download/660265[/img]



The decision to suspend the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Sanusi Lamido was based on a report of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria dated June 7, 2013.

The report was made after a review of Sanusi’s response to the query issued to him by the President over the apex bank’s financial statement of 2012. His response was dated May 20, 2013.

According to a copy of the report obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, the council indicates that the explanation provided by the suspended CBN governor is “a clear display of incompetence, nonchalance, fraud, wastefulness, and abuse of due process and deliberate efforts to misrepresent facts on the part of the leadership of the CBN.”

The council advised the President to exercise the powers conferred on him by Section 11(2)(f) of the CBN Act 2007 or invoke Section 11(2)(c) of the said Act “and cause the governor and the deputy governors to cease from holding office in the CBN.”

The report read: The particulars of the infractions against Sanusi are:

Persistent refusal and/or negligence to comply with the Public Procurement Act in the procurement practices of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

(A) By virtue of Section 15 (1)(a) of the Public Procurement Act, the provisions of the Act are expected to comply to ‘all procurement of goods, works and services carried out by the Federal Government of Nigeria and all procurement entities.’ This definition clearly includes the Central Bank of Nigeria.

(B) It is however regrettable that the Central Bank of Nigeria, under his leadership, has refused and/or neglected to comply with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act (PPA). You will recall that one of the primary reasons for the enactment of the PPA was the need to promote transparency, competitiveness, cost of effectiveness and professionalism in the public sector procurement system.

More from: http://www.punchng.com/news/the-frcns-report-on-sanusi/

IamPatriotic:
Saraki is seriously fighting back, now I wholly agree to the slang that "if you fight corruption, corruption fights back" If Umar hasn't gone to equity with clean hands, he should leave , Nigeria has more than a million and one people who can head CCT, and for Saraki? they will get you.

Saraki would prefer to have him remain on that sit so he can have a basis to challenge any judgement made by him, but if he's sent packing, Saraki is as good as gone....

francizy:


And you're an adult?

Shey na because 19 years old marry on time na im she go dey claim adult?

Bwaaaahahahhaha. .... you hon know nohin, but i still won't tell you sonhin.....

Wish 19yr olds graduate in nigeria & i am not talking about the convenants, babcock & madonnas..


Go jo, you know i don't do E war & you are one of the few wailers i bant with so still go & make your cereal.

modath:



Bwaaaahahahhaha. .... you hon know nohin, but i still won't tell you sonhin.....

Wish 19yr olds graduate in nigeria & i am not talking about the convenants, babcock & madonnas..


Go jo, you know i don't do E war & you are one of the few wailers i bant with so still go & make your cereal.

LoL! I actually met a 14 years old guy in my first year. He graduate at the age of 19 (5 years course), so if you had entered at 14 and you did a 4 years program (plus NYSC year) so it's possible to have a 19 years old graduate.

Who will war you? Not me and you know that..