The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, could not be prosecuted over the allegation of N44.5 million fraud leveled against him because of lack of evidence, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami said yesterday.
According to Malami, his office sought the input of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the allegation brought against Umar by the Anti-Corruption Network, a non-governmental organisation,
The AGF, who spoke before the Hon. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta-headed House Committee on Public Petitions, said: “We also wish to state for the record that presumption of law as it is relates with the constitutionality is embedded in section 36 of the constitution, section 36 subsection 5 which is based on presumption of innocence until the contrary is proved.
“We have taken steps to invite the appropriate authorities inclusive of the EFCC and demanded for their input arising from the petition that was received in that respect.
“I’m happy to bring to the notice of the committee that EFCC has provided opinion on the basis of which we acted, a copy of that letter I believe has been made available to the committee. It is dated 5th March 2015.
“Driving from the conclusion, it became difficult for any prosecution to be initiated based on the basis of facts as they were presented.”
But the Executive Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Network, Mr. Ajulo Ajulo, said the CCT Chairman actually committed the acts he was accused of.
According to him, the lawmakers should probe the allegations by scrutinising necessary documents from the CCT.
The CCT chairman denied the allegations when questioned on the veracity of the claims in the petition.
The committee Chairman urged the minister to present additional documents showing that the EFCC’s investigation into the networks allegations was thorough.
He also asked the network to present its certificate of registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission to the committee at a later date.
