The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, reaffirmed its position that there was no evidence linking the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, to any fraudulent activities, saying the allegations against him were “suspicious” and “insufficient”.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, the nation’s top anti-graft agency said Mr. Umar was being cleared for the second time after its personnel carried out a thorough investigation into the petitions against the tribunal chairman.
The head of public relations of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Ibraheem Al-hassan, who disclosed the details of the letter in a statement, said the EFCC was responding to the conclusion of a petition against Mr. Umar that he allegedly received a N10 million bribe from Abdulrashid Owolabi.
Mr. Al-hassan quoted excerpts of the letter from EFCC as reading: ‘‘We would like to reiterate the Commission’s position in regard to this matter as earlier communicated to you and stated that the allegations levelled against Justice Umar were mere suspicious and consequently insufficient to successfully prosecute the offence”.
Mr. Al-hassan said the letter addressed a N10 million bribery allegation against Mr. Umar and it carried the reference number: EFCC/P/NHRU/688/V.30/99 and dated 20th April, 2016.
The letter makes it the second time EFCC will clear Mr. Umar, 44, of any financial impropriety, based on the petitions it has so far investigated.
The first letter was written on March 5th, 2015 through the office of the former SGF, Pius Anyim.
Mr. Umar has come under intense scrutiny about his past activities since he started handling the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over alleged false assets declaration, with many calling for him to recuse himself from Mr. Saraki’s case because he is equally tainted.
Last December, a group, the Anti-Corruption Network, ACN, also alleged that Mr. Umar used his office to purchase exotic vehicles, furniture and other household items, up to the tune of N34.9 million, without following due process.
The ACN, led by Senator Dino Melaye, an ally of the Senate President, dragged Mr. Umar before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions over the allegations. Mr. Umar vehemently denied all the charges against him.
In December 2015, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, said there was no “material fact” to put Mr. Umar on trial.
Source: Premium Times
