More TROUBLES For Saraki, As EFCC Clears CCT Chairman Of Bribery Allegation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday absolved the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, of any wrongdoing in a N10 million bribery allegation,

The anti-graft agency in a letter signed by the Executive Secretary of the EFCC, Emmanuel Adegboyega Aremu, the commission said it has no evidence linking Umar with the alleged bribery.

It would be recalled that embattled senate President Bukola Saraki had asked the tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar to disqualify himself from further hearing his (Saraki’s) corruption case, alleging that Umar was under criminal investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He also said that Umar would likely be biased in the handling of his trial since the EFCC which is allegedly leading the prosecution of the Senate President before the CCT is also investigating the tribunal chairman.

But CCT’s spokesman, Ibraheem Al-hassan, said in a statement on Wednesday that the letter from the EFCC was addressed to the Secretary to Government of the Federation and captioned ‘‘Re: Investigation report on N10 million bribery allegation against the Chairman Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja, with reference NO: EFCC/P/NHRU/688/V.30/99, dated 20th April, 2016 absolved Umar of a wrongdoing.

The letter reads, ‘‘Kindly recall our correspondence of 5th March, 2015, (reference EFCC/EC/SGF/03/56) with the above subject, please.

‘‘We would like to reiterate the commission’s position in regard to this matter as earlier communicated to you and stated that the allegations leveled against Justice Umar were mere suspicious and consequently insufficient to successfully prosecute the offence.”