From Kemi Yesufu and Fred Itua, Abuja
THE House of Representatives yesterday received two petitions against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Yakunu Umar, over alleged financial impropriety and abuse of office.
This is coming a few days after a group, Mission for Peace and Development, filed a case at the Federal High Court, Abuja also accusing Umar of abuse of office, among others.
In two petitions signed by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Ajufo I. Ajufo and laid before the House during its plenary, Abuja-based group, Anti-Corruption Network, said it has documents that revealed alleged breach of due process and financial wrongdoing at the CCT.
One of the petitions alleged misappropriation of public funds, award of fictitious contracts, dis- regard for due process and conversion of public funds for personal use in recent times.
In one of the transactions cited in the petition, the Anti-Corruption Network claimed that Umar allegedly approved the payment of N1million to be made vide voucher CCT/ABJ/DC/206/11 dated July 14, 2011 for the purpose of organising his wedding, an act which amounts to misuse of public funds.
Also, the group stated that Umar approved the payment of N4.2million for the “replacement of external security light bulbs,” which was alleg- edly paid to Chinox Global Investment Ltd vide voucher CCT/ABJ/ DC/153/11.
It also claimed that Umar approved the payment of N11, 430, 000 to Luminous Engineering Services, effected through E-payment schedule dated March 22, 2011 for furniture.
In another allegation contained in the five-page petition, the Anti-Corruption Network said Umar approved the award of contract for the supply of a Toyota Prado jeep for N15,273,000 without fol- lowing due process for procurement.
“The contract was awarded to Maigoro Engineering NIG. Ltd, an engineering company and not a car dealership., This is a gross abuse of office and a violation of procurement regulations”, the group noted.
The group also alleged that there was payment of N1,723,770.32 to a company called NUHMS International Business Ltd for the renovation of the official quarters of a tribunal member in Asokoro, Abuja, while between February and May 2011, various sums of money were paid for “purchase of welfare items (N4.2million)”, “supply of additional furniture (N1, 575, 000)”, repairs (N3.78millio) to Chinox Global Investments Ltd.
It also alleged that N1.35 million was paid to NUMHS International and an additional N1.62 million for “repairs of electrical fittings.” The sum of N4.23 million was allegedly paid for “plumbing works” to Luminous Eng. Works and N1.62 million paid to MUTONICS NIG. Ltd for the “supply of beverages and toilet services”.
The group urged the House to investigate all the allegations contained in its petition.
Yet, another, entitled, “Petition Against the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for neglect of duty and cover up”, Anti-Corruption Network claimed that the Office of the Attorney- General should be made to explain why it has neglected the report by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the recommendation of the erstwhile occupant of the office, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adokie (SAN) on the case against Umar, while only acting on the part of the report concerning his personal assistant.
According to the group, former EFCC Chair- man, Ibrahim Lamorde, on June 24, 2014, submitted the report of an investigation to the office of the Attorney-General (AG), EFCC/EC/ JUS/07/117.
The group attached to its processes official letter from high quarters including the Presidency to support its claims.