The Senate yesterday commenced probe of the failure of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, on corruption allegation.
The petition alleging corrupt practices against Umar was dated November 5 and submitted to the Senate for consideration.
In the petition dated November 5 written by the Anti-Corruption Network against the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, it was alleged the OAGF failed in its sacrosanct duty to Nigeria in the case against Umar.
The letter reads in part: “We have become aware that the office of the Attorney-General has failed in this sacrosanct duty to Nigeria in one particular case and would like the office to explain why on June 24, 2014, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission wrote an “investigation Report” to the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation (Ref No: EFCC/EC/JUS?07?117). The report was about evidence of criminal allegations against two suspects from Code of Conduct Tribunal, namely – (1) Hon. Justice Danladi Umar and Ali Gambo Abdulahi.
“The Attorney-General then instructed the chairman of EFCC by minuting on the same letter to proceed to prosecute the suspect. This was communicated in writing to the chairman EFCC with reference No. HAGF/EFCC/2014/Vol./19 dated 26 June 2014.
“However, only the second suspect, Ali Gambo was prosecuted. The very first suspect who is the main suspect, Mr. Danladi has been left un-prosecuted. This is breach of the order of the AGF. Since then, the office of the Attorney General has been silent on this failure to prosecute as directed.”
The EFCC said it could not put Umar on trial over the N10 million bribery allegation because the evidence against him was not weighty and not sufficient to sustain a possible prosecution.
EFCC, however, confirmed that Ali Gambo Abdullahi, a Personal Assistant to the CCT boss, admitted receiving N1.8 million in 2012 from one Rasheed Taiwo, who was standing trial at the tribunal.
The said Abdullahi was alleged to have used his salary account at Zenith Bank to collect the money. .
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