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Tag: Justice Danladi Umar

  • Assets declaration: CCT convicts 16 defaulters in Bauchi

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal ( CCT ) in Bauchi has convicted 16 civil servants and political office holders found guilty of non-declaration of assests.

    Mallam Ibrahim Alhassan, the Head of Press and Public Relations of the CCT disclosed this in an interview with the newsmen on Thursday in Bauch

    He said the convicted persons failed to submit a written declaration of all their assets and liabilities within the prescribed period of three months that violated various provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

    Alhassan said that the action was contrary to paragraph 11( 1 ) of the Fifth Schedules, Part One of the Constitution, punishable under Paragraph 18( 2 ) of the Fifth Schedule.

    He said out there was a total of 55 defaulters out of which 16 persons were convicted.

    “The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar gave a fine of N5, 000 to N30,000  fine to the convicted defaulters and  ordered that the fine be paid within 30 days.

    Read Also: Buhari vists Bauchi on Thursday

    “Failure to remit the fines within the stipulated 30 days will cause the convicts to vacate their positions as state government staff or political office holder.

    ‎”At the instance of the prosecution the tribunal withdrew charges against 12 persons that appeared before the tribunal while 10 defaulters were absent in the tribunal.

    “Therefore, 27 cases were adjourned to Abuja on different dates.

    “Some of the defaulters were cautioned and given second chance due to the factors surrounding their inability to declare their assets,” he said

    The newsmen reports that of the 55 defaulters, 18 are political appointees,10 police officers, four NDLEA personnel, one Customs officer and 22 career civil servants working with the Local, State and Federal Governments.

    NAN

  • CCT Chairman approves arraignment of Justices Nguta, Ademola

    The Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice Danladi Umar, on Thursday approved the filing of cases against Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta of Supreme Court and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The tribunal’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Mr Ibraheem AL-Hassan, said this in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

    Al-Hassan said the chairman received the charges separately on Wednesday, from the office of Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    He said the charges which ranged from non-declaration of assets to false asset declaration preferred against the two Judges, were signed by Mrs Hajara Yusuf, the Principal State Counsel.

    Al-Hassan said Ngwuta was charged with 10-count charge bordering on false asset declaration and Ademola, two-count charge on non-declaration of assets.

    He said both offences were contrary to Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, adding that they were offences punishable under Section 23 (2) of the same Act.

    “Details of the counts are contained in the charge sheets. This is to confirm the receipt and subsequent approval of the charges by the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    “The tribunal would in due course communicate dates fixe for the arraignment of the Judges,’’ he said.

    Both judges are standing trials at Federal and FCT High Court, respectively, on fraud allegations.

  • Tribunal adjourns Saraki’s trial to Jan. 17

    Tribunal adjourns Saraki’s trial to Jan. 17

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal has adjourned the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki to Jan. 17, to enable the prosecution to present more witnesses.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, adjourned the matter following request for more time by the prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs.

    Umar said the tribunal was doing all it can to work by the provisions of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), on the matter.

    “We are bound by the ACJA; we are trying to be lenient with all the parties. This matter is hereby adjourned to Jan. 17 for continuation of hearing,

    Jacobs had said some of the prosecution witnesses were in Lagos and that time was needed to enable him to produce them.

    Defence counsel led by Kanu Agabi (SAN), had prayed the court to grant leave for possible re-examination of a witness, Michael Wetkass.

    Agabi said there were perceived ambiguities in some of the evidences given by the witness during his examination and cross-examination.

    Mr Paul Usoro, a defence counsel informed the court that the essence of the re-examination was to clarify some of the ambiguities before the tribunal.

    “One of the charges says 3.4 million dollars was transferred but your evidence in chief says otherwise’’, Usoro said.

    Wetkass had told the tribunal that he did not investigate Saraki personally and that his business record was also not investigated by him.

    Wetkass also told the tribunal that he was part of the investigative team and that the total amount transferred by Saraki to his foreign account through America Expresss Bank was 3.5 million dollars.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was serious argument on the exact period Saraki’s property at No. 15, Madona Street, Ikoyi, Lagos was allocated to him. (NAN)

  • Tribunal finds Orubebe guilty

    Tribunal finds Orubebe guilty

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja has pronounced former Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Orubebe, guilty of non-declaration of asset.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, on Tuesday announced a forfeiture of the property, located in a choice area of Abuja, Asokoro.

    The Judge explained that the testimonies and document presented by the prosecution prove that the former minister is guilty as charged.

    Justice Umar stated that while the minister claimed that the property was on rent from the federal government, the rejection of the claim by his former landlord to allow him to exercise his right over the property rendered the power of attorney useless.

    The former Minister had pleaded ‘not guilty’ for two count charges of false declaration of assets and another two counts of bribery when arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    Mr. Orubebe was charged by the Code of Conduct Bureau for alleged failure to declare landed property in Kyamu and Asokoro district, both in Abuja, on assumption of office as minister on September 26, 2007.

    Similarly, the former Minister was accused of allegedly accepting bribes totalling N70 million for the award of contracts in favour of his company.

  • ‘Saraki made anticipatory asset declaration’- witness

    ‘Saraki made anticipatory asset declaration’- witness

    A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Michael Wetkas, on Tuesday admitted that Senate President Bukola Saraki, made anticipatory asset declaration.

    Saraki is standing on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged false asset declaration and money laundering, which he pleaded not guilty.

    Wetkas made the admission under cross examination by Saraki’s Counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN) at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    “Based on the strength of the documents we have tendered, I agree that the defendant made an anticipatory asset declaration until proven otherwise,” he said.

    He further testified that during investigation “we discovered N1.5 million in the defendant’s wife account in Ecobank.

    The witness said that N1.1million was discovered in same bank account with the name of Seni Saraki and Toyin Saraki.

    Wetkas said that Saraki declared that he had cars worth N263.4 million before he became governor of Kwara.

    The analysis of the defendant’s cars revealed the “Saraki has Mercedes Benz S320 valued N16million, Mercedes Benz S500 valued N20 million and Mercedes Benz G500 valued six million naira.

    Others were Mercedes Benz V220 valued two million naira, Ferari 456GT valued N25million and Lincoln Navigator Jeep valued N15 million.

    Also in the list were Mercedes Benz ML280 valued N8.5million, Peugeot 406 valued N2.9million, Mercedes Benz CLK320 valued nine million naira and Mercedes Benz E320 valued N11million.

    The others were Mercedes Benz G500 valued N45million, Mercedes Benz S500 valued N30 million, Lexus Jeep valued N30 million and Lincoln Navigator worth N25million.

    He also read in the exhibit that Saraki had assets worth over four billion naira both in properties and the cars.

    He, however, said that property No. 15, Macdonald Street Ikoyi, Lagos, was sold to Saraki’s company Skyview Properties Limited which was not captured in his Asset Declaration Form.

    He further testified that Saraki bought property No. 15A and 15B Macdonald Street Ikoyi, Lagos, in 2000 through his company Tiny Tee Limited.

    He said that the purchase violate the rules of the implementation committee on the sale of Federal Government property which suggested one person per one property.

    He said the committee when contacted informed the EFCC that only property No. 15, Macdonald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, was sold to Skyview limited.

    The tribunal Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, adjourned further proceeding till May 11.

  • Saraki’s trial: ‘You have no power to summon CCT boss’ – SERAP

    Saraki’s trial: ‘You have no power to summon CCT boss’ – SERAP

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the leadership of the Senate to “immediately withdraw the unconstitutional summon for Justice Danladi Umar, Chairman Code of Conduct Tribunal to appear before its Ethics Committee, as the Senate can’t arrogate to itself the power to summon judges without violating constitutional safeguards.”

     

    The group said that “The summon represents a direct assault upon the principle of judicial independence as it undermines the constitutional principle of separation of powers and guarantee of a judicial system that is free from outside influence of whatever kind and from whatever source. The Senate of Dr Bukola Saraki is perpetrating a parliament of men and not of laws.”

     

    The statement dated 20 April 2016 and signed by SERAP Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni reads in part: “The constitutional power of the Senate can only be validly exercised if it’s intended to be in aid of the function of law-making itself. There is clearly no suggestion of contemplated legislation in this case. The Senate not only has exceeded the limit of its own authority, but assumed a power which could only be properly exercised by another branch of the government. We therefore advise Justice Umar to ignore its invitation as it is of no legal effect whatsoever.”

     

    “The Senate in its blind zeal to protect the Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki who is facing corruption charges before the Tribunal is working hard to destroy the foundation of the country’s constitutional democracy. This is a blatant usurpation of power, and an attack upon the integrity of constitutional government and the rule of law.”

     

    “The Senate doesn’t have the power to summon any judge, including Justice Umar. If there is any credible allegation of corruption against Justice Umar, it ought to be dealt with by the appropriate law enforcement agencies and that cannot be the Senate.”

     

    “The Senate can’t lawfully exercise any authority beyond the limits marked out by the constitution. It’s manifestly repugnant to constitutional safeguards which assign to each organ of the government its exclusive functions and a limited sphere of action. This invitation, coming on the heels of the decision by the Tribunal for Saraki’s trial to be conducted day-by-day pursuant to Section 396(6) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, is clearly politically motivated.”

     

    “While the Senate is empowered under Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to conduct an inquiry for the purpose of enabling it to among others make laws, correct any defects in existing laws, expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence, it doesn’t possess the power to get involved in alleged criminal matter. The Senate is in no sense a court, police or anticorruption agency, and for it to attempt to act as one, would bring about insurmountable legal and political problems.”

     

     

     

  • Tribunal stops live coverage of Saraki’s trial

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, on Wednesday barred live coverage of the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for alleged false asset declaration.

    The tribunal’s Assistant Chief Registrar, Mr. Bintu Garba, told reporters that they could not take photographs or record the proceedings live.

    Garba said he was acting on Justice Umar’s instructions.

    Saraki arrived at the tribunal with 28 senators. His deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, was accompanied by four senators.

     

     

  • Gunmen attack Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman’s convoy

    Gunmen attack Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman’s convoy

    The convoy of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, was on Friday attacked by gunmen on the Keffi-Gitata Road in Nasarawa State.

    This, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by Mr Ibraheem Al-hassan, Head of Press and Public Relations of the tribunal.

    Al-hassan said that security personnel attached to the chairman engaged the gunmen in a fierce exchange of gun fire which led to the death of one of the bandits.

    He said that some of the bandits, who sustained various degrees of injuries, ran into the bush.

    Alhassan said the chairman and members of his entourage, who were on their way to Bauchi for an official assignment, did not record any casualty.

    He said that security details attached to the chairman “displayed rare professional excellence by overpowering the bandits’’.

    Al-hassan stressed the need to strengthen security around judges in the country, to mitigate re-occurrence of such incidents.

    “There is the temptation for some politicians whose cases are pending before the judges to be mischievous, especially as the 2015 elections draw nearer,’’ he said.