Court order detains former CCT chairman, Umar, in Kuje Prison

Judge Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama has ordered the detention of former Chief Justice of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

Umar was reinstated on Thursday after he was indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges of giving himself undue advantage while serving as chief justice.

The former CCT boss was taken to court on four charges and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

EFCC counsel Christopher Mshelia asked the court to remand Umar in a correctional facility and give the prosecution time to prepare its response to the bail application submitted by the defence.

However, Umar’s lawyer informed the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of his client and urged the court to consider the request.

Prosecutors objected, saying they had just received the bail application and needed time to respond.

Judge Kekemeke then adjourned the matter to July 15 to hear the bail application, and ordered that Umar remain detained at Kuje Correctional Institution pending the court’s decision.

The Senate in November 2024 had implemented the provisions of Article 157 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended and called for the removal of Umar from the post of chairman of the CCP.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele who moved the motion, said that the actions of Umar, who is the Chief Justice, did not meet the standards required of a public officer to run the business of the court.

He said what was worrying was that the Senate was flooded with a series of petitions and allegations of corruption, violations against the Chairman through the Senate Committee on the Code of Ethics and Public Petitions.