The trial of Danladi Yakubu Umar by the EFCC to allegedly obtaining N10 million bribe appears to have backfired with a query issued to an EFCC chief.
Ibrahim Magu
President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has issued a query to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu over the corruption charges filed against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Yakubu Umar.
PRNigeria obtained a copy of the query to Magu and another letter written to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo.
In the query dated February 16, 2018 and with Reference No DPP/ADV:368/15, Magu was ordered to make his response to the query available to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice on or before Tuesday, February 20, 2018.
Signed by Mr. Dayo Apata, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Magu was asked to explain what informed the filing of corruption charges against the tribunal chairman having being cleared of corruption allegation two times by the commission.
Titled, “FR VS Danladi Umar (CR/109/18) request for Briefing,” the query read in part: “The attention of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was drawn to news report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed charges of corruption against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Hon. Justice Danladi Umar, before the FCT High Court.
“I am directed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to seek clarification from you as to whether the charges were filed on your instruction or directive and if in the affirmative, what is the compelling basis for doing so. This clarification becomes imperative in view of the following background facts.
“The Commission’s investigation report dated 5th March 2015 addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation stated as follows: “The facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the defence.
“The Commission’s position in paragraph 2(a) above was also maintained and sustained by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation while appearing before the House of Representatives’ Investigative Committee sometimes in 2015 to the effect that report of investigations showed that the allegations against Hon. Justice Danladi Umar were based on mere suspicions.
“In view of the foregoing, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation requests for your prompt briefing as to the existence of new facts which are contrary to the position in your attached investigation report, sufficient evidence or other developments upon which the prosecution of Hon. Justice Danladi can be successfully based.
“Kindly accord this letter top priority while your prompt response within 48 hours from the receipt of same is required in the circumstances.”