Contractor Reveals Payments to Ex-CCT Chairman's Family

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) started its corruption case against former Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) chairman Danladi Umar at the FCT High Court in Abuja on Thursday.

Oluwatayo Solomon, who owns JTF Global Links Limited and Portal Realities, testified that he paid for Mr Umar’s children’s school fees at Baze University in Abuja. He also transferred money to Mr Umar’s wife after the CCT paid him for a contract.

He said he got a call to pay N6 million into Zulaihatu Umar's bank account just two days after he received payment from the tribunal. The witness stated that Akinola Akonju, a deputy director at the CCT, called him about the “request” and shared the account details for the payment.

“Mrs Umar also called me about the payment. The money was paid from the Portal Realities Limited Wema Bank account into her account,” the witness said.

On 9 July, the EFCC arraigned Mr Umar before the FCT High Court on charges of receiving about N15.6 million in bribes from CCT’s contractors between 2021 and 2024. Mr Umar served as chairman from July 2011 to November 2024. He allegedly received money through deposits into his wife’s account and by covering his children's school fees at Baze University, Abuja.

The EFCC claimed that Kurchmives International Limited, a subcontractor under a contract given to Momanaf Global Ventures Limited, sent N5 million to Zulaihatu Umar’s Zenith Bank account on 5 October 2021. The EFCC also alleged that Portal Realities Limited sent N6 million to Mrs Umar’s account on 25 January 2024.

The prosecution said Portal Realities Limited paid over N4 million for Mr Umar’s children, Faiza and Yakubu, at Baze University. These payments are considered acts of corruption, which involve public officers using their positions to gain unfair advantages, as stated in section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

‘How I Paid for Ex-CCT Chairman’s Children’s School Fees’

Mr Solomon, the first witness for the prosecution, explained how he paid the school fees for Mr Umar’s children. He mentioned that Mr Akonju called him in October 2021, telling him that Mr Umar asked him to cover the school fees for two of his children in Baze University, Abuja.

“I paid about N2 million for Yakubu Umar Danladi from the Portal Realities Limited account in Jaiz Bank to Baze University. I also paid school fees for Faiza Umar Danladi,” from the same account.

EFCC’s lawyer Christopher Mshelia led Mr Solomon in presenting documents about the contract given by the CCT, which was chaired by Mr Umar, to his company, JTF Global Links Limited.

Cross-examination

During cross-examination by defence lawyer Edward Sunday, Mr Solomon confirmed that he had known Mr Umar for over ten years. He also recognized Mr Umar’s wife and children and said they could be seen as family friends.

When the defence lawyer suggested that the N6 million sent to Mrs Umar’s account could be seen as a loan, Mr Solomon replied, “There was no reason to give her a loan because I did not have that discussion with her.” He also admitted that he did not disclose everything.

He acknowledged a transfer of N3 million from Mrs Umar into his business account with Zenith Bank on 16 February 2024, but he confirmed this transaction was left out of his statement to the EFCC. Mr Solomon said he received the instruction to pay for Mr Umar’s children's fees from Mr Akonju, and he did not check with Mr Umar.

“Based on the relationship I have with him and the beneficiaries sent to me are the people I am familiar with,” the witness stated. He also revealed that Portal Realities Limited, which he used to make the payments, did not have a contract with the CCT.

Earlier, Mr Solomon informed the court that the CCT awarded a contract to JTF Global Links Limited on 22 September 2021, after he submitted the company’s profile to the tribunal. When the defence lawyer questioned if he had asked for the contract, Mr Solomon said, “Based on my relationship with Mr Umar, he asked me to meet Mr Akonji, whom I submitted my company profile to.”

The witness, who claimed to have all necessary documents “for bidding according to the laws of Nigeria,” insisted that the documents he submitted for the CCT contract proved he was qualified for it.

The defence lawyer described some of Mr Solomon’s claims as afterthoughts and tried to question him about his extrajudicial statement. But he could not continue after realizing there was no certified true copy of the witness’ statement in court.

Judge Peter Kekemeke then adjourned the case until 20 January 2027 for the prosecution to provide the defence with the certified copy of the statement. Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, criminalizes public officers who use their office to gain undue advantage for themselves, friends, or family. This offence can lead to seven years in prison if convicted. Mr Umar denied all the allegations.