More Trouble for CCT Chairman as Group Exposes Him as the Most Corrupt Man in Nigeria




Image result for efccMore Trouble for CCT Chairman as Group Exposes Him as the Most Corrupt Man in Nigeria

Few days after a group called Mission for Peace and Development (MPD) filed a case at the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging grievous allegation of corruption against Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Yakubu Umar, another group today in the House of Representatives unfolded a fresh set of cases of graft practices, financial impropriety and abuse of office allegedly perpetrated by Umar.

In two different petitions signed by its secretary and laid before the House during its plenary, an Abuja based group, Anti-Corruption Network (CAN), stated that  it had discovered "startling  facts and documents that reveal a scandalous and outrageous level of corruption" in the CCT which it described as  “a vital judicial institution."

The group stated that Umar has been "engaging in dishonest, unscrupulous and discreditable conduct" and has  "committed  financial impropriety, misuse of office and disregard for due process."

It went ahead to list six different cases of misappropriation of public funds, award of fictitious contracts, disregard for due process and conversion of public funds for personal purposes against the CCT chairman. The petitions were supported by copies of payment vouchers and schedule.

In one of the transactions referred to in the petition, the ACN alleged that Umar caused a payment of N1million to be made to him vie payment voucher CCT/ABJ/DC/206/11 dated July 14, 2011, for the purpose of organising his own wedding ceremony, an act which amount to misuse of public funds.

Also, the group stated that Umar approved without following due process the payment of N4.2million for the "replacement of external security light bulbs." The money was paid to Chinox Global Investment Limited vie payment voucher CCT/ABJ/ DC/153/11.

"Not only is this monstrous amount a gross inflation of what may have been needed to replace light bulbs in the premises, it is an entirely fictitious contract. No replacement of external security lights were carried out," the group alleged.

It also alleged that Umar made a fake request for supply of furniture and approved the payment of N11, 430, 000 to one Luminous Engineering Services and payment was effected through e-payment schedule on March 22, 2011.
The group also noted that the engineering company was fused by Umar for several fraudulent transactions as it was obviously not a furniture or supply company.

In another allegation contained in the five-page petition, the Anti- Corruption Network said Umar awarded the contract for the supply of a Toyota Prado SUV in the sum of N15, 273,000 without following due process for procurement.

"The contract was awarded to one Maigoro Engineering Nig Limited. This company was an engineering company and not a car dealership. But Umar foisted the company on the CCT. This is a gross abuse of office and a violation of procurement regulations," the group also alleged.

While claiming that numerous cases of "dubious and questionable payments" approved by the CCT chairman for which payments were effected, the ACN listed among others the payment of N1,723,770.32 to a company called NUHMS International Business Limited for the renovation of the official quarters of a tribunal member in Asokoro, Abuja, a contract which was never executed.

It also alleged that between February and May 2011, Umar caused various sum of money to be paid to crony companies like N4.2 million to one Raji Kehinde for "the purchase of welfare items," N1, 575, 000 to NUMHS International for the supply of additional furniture," N3.78million for repairs to Chinox Global Investments,  N1.35 million to NUMHS International, N1.62 million paid also to NUMHS  for repairs of electrical fitting, N4.23 million for plumbing works paid to Luminous Engineering Works and N1.62 million paid to MUTONICS Nig. Limited for supply of beverages and toilet services."

The group urged the House of Representatives to investigate all the allegations contained in its petition as it claimed that "the financial impropriety of the CCT chairman is not limited to those listed above."

Also, in another petition titled: ‘Petition against the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for Neglect of Duty and Cover Up’, the group alleged that the office of the Chief Law Officer of Nigeria should be made to explain why it has neglected the report by EFCC and the recommendation of the erstwhile occupant of the office, Mr. Muhammed Bello Adokie (SAN), on the case of bribery leveled against the CCT Chairman, Umar, while only acting on the part of the report concerning his Personal Assistant, Ali Gambo Abdullahi.

According to the group, former EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, on June 24, 2014, submitted the report of an investigation to the office of the AG with Ref. No. EFCC/EC/ JUS/07/117.

"That report was about evidence of criminal allegations against Umar and Gambo and the AG then instructed the EFCC chairman by the same letter to  proceed and prosecute the suspects," this was communicated in writing to the EFCC chairman vie letter ref HAGF/EFCC/2014/vol.1/19 dated June 26, 2014.

The group wondered why the AG's Office later went silent on Umar and is prosecuting only Abdullahi. "This is in clear breach of the order of the AG.”

The group attached to its processes official letter from high quarters including the presidency to support its allegation of corruption against Umar.

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