No Evidence to Prosecute CCT Chair Over Corruption Allegations

The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Tuesday informed the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Public Petitions that his office has no substantial evidence to prosecute the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, over allegations of corruption levelled against him by a Civil Society group, Anti-Corruption Network. Malami, who made the disclosure when he appeared before the Committee, said investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could not establish any evidence that would warrant the prosecution of the CCT judge. “Cases are prosecuted on the basis of facts and not on the basis of suspicion. We wish to state from the onset that the office Attorney-General identify each association in whose purpose is to fight corruption by the way of undertaking we have committed ourselves and being accommodated in that respect. “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. “Presumption on the receipt of the copy of the petition 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,” Malami said.