The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has granted former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, bail in the sum of ₦100 million as he prepares to face trial over alleged gratification linked to contractors who handled projects for the tribunal.
Justice Peter Kekemeke admitted the former CCT chairman to bail on Wednesday after ruling that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to present compelling reasons to justify his continued detention.
The court ordered Umar to provide one surety who must own verifiable property within Abuja as part of the bail conditions.
The ruling came less than a week after the EFCC arraigned Umar on allegations that, while serving as CCT chairman, he received financial benefits from contractors awarded projects by the tribunal.
According to the anti-graft agency, the alleged benefits included cash transfers made into the bank account of Umar’s wife as well as the payment of tuition fees for his children at Baze University.
The EFCC accused the former tribunal chairman of receiving a total of about ₦15 million in unlawful benefits from companies linked to contracts executed for the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Among the allegations, prosecutors claimed that Kurchmives International Limited, a subcontractor involved in painting the tribunal’s headquarters, transferred ₦5 million into the account of Umar’s wife, Zulaihatu Umar.
The Commission further alleged that Portal Realities Limited, a sister company of JTF Global Links Limited, paid ₦6 million into the same account and settled more than ₦4 million in school fees for two of Umar’s children at Baze University.
The EFCC said the alleged actions violated provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, which prohibits public officials from using their positions to obtain undue benefits for themselves or members of their families. The offence carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years upon conviction.
Umar, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
During the bail hearing, defence counsel Edward Sunday argued that his client had fully cooperated with investigators throughout the year-long probe and never failed to honour EFCC invitations. He also noted that Umar complied with the administrative bail earlier granted by the Commission and posed no flight risk.
The prosecution opposed the application, contending that the seriousness of the charges and the possibility of interference with witnesses justified denying bail.
However, Justice Kekemeke questioned the prosecution on whether Umar had ever absconded during the investigation.
After the EFCC admitted that the former CCT chairman had not fled or violated the terms of his administrative bail, the judge held that there was no sufficient basis to refuse bail.
He reiterated the constitutional principle that every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty and ruled that, in the absence of evidence suggesting Umar would interfere with witnesses, tamper with evidence or commit further offences, he was entitled to bail.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until October 29, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The development comes amid increased anti-corruption prosecutions involving former public officials, with the EFCC maintaining that it remains committed to pursuing allegations of abuse of office and illicit enrichment through due process.
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