Alleged N10m Extortion: HURIWA Gives CCT Chairman 24hrs to Resign

By Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has given the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar 24 hours to resign his appointment, following his indictment on allegation of corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an alleged N10 million extortion.
The group’s coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko made the call at a press conference in Abuja, where he stressed that as a member of the judiciary and a custodian of law, it is only lawful and respectful that Umar resigns from his office to save the nation and the credibility of the institution he represents.

According to Onwubiko, “let me clarify; we wrote to Danladi Umar, the CCT boss, with conviction as genuine patriots and human rights campaigners asking him to resign as chairman of that agency. This is because of his official indictment on allegation of corruption by the EFCC, following his investigation and that of his personal Assistant, Ali Gambo Abdulahim over alleged N10 million extortion.”

Onwubiko noted that Umar is still on an administrative bail in the sum of N5 million from the EFCC in the matter of a case of conspiracy, bribery, abuse of office and money laundering (CR/NO:035/2013) in a complaint filed by one Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo. He revealed that the group had accessed a report written by the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice to former President Goodluck Jonathan on May 12, 2014 recommending his removal from office.

Against this background, the rights group noted that, “it is only proper that he resigns within the 24 hours from his high office as the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. He should be informed that we in the civil society are prepared to use all constitutional and legal means to ensure that he will not continue to function as you chairman, should he fail to heed our advice”.
The group however said the AGF was wrong to have stated that he never instituted charges against the CCT chairman.