Two petitions on fraudulent transactions worth N31.8 million, allegedly involving Justice Danladi Umar, the chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), were laid before the House of Representatives yesterday.
The petitions signed by Ajufo Ajufo, Executive Secretary of Anti-Corruption Network, were laid during Tuesday plenary session by Rima Kwewum (APC-Taraba).
The group identified six different cases of misappropriation of public funds through the award of fictitious contracts, disregard for due process and conversion of public funds for personal purposes against the CCT chairman.
The petitions were supported by copies of payment vouchers and schedule.
The group which accused the CCT chairman of involvement in “scandalous and outrageous level of corruption,” argued that he engaged “in dishonest, unscrupulous and discreditable conduct” and has “committed financial impropriety, misuse of office and disregard for due process”.
In one of the transactions, the group alleged that Umar caused a payment of N1 million to be made to him vide payment voucher CCT/ABJ/DC/206/11 dated July 14, 2011 for the purpose of organising his own wedding ceremony, an act which it said amount to a misuse of public funds.
It also accused Umar of failing to follow due process in the payment of N4.2 million for the “replacement of external security light bulbs”.
The money was allegedly paid to Chinox Global Investment Ltd vide payment voucher CCT/ABJ/ DC/153/11.
“Not only is this monstrous amount a gross inflation of what may have been needed to replace light bulbs in the premises, it is an entirely fictitious contract. No replacement of external security lights were carried out”, the petition read.
It further noted that the CCT chairman made a fake request for supply of furniture and approved the payment of N11,430,000 to one Luminous Engineering Services and payment was effected through E-payment schedule dated March 22, 2011.
The anti-corruption group, alleged that the engineering company was used by Umar for several fraudulent transactions, as it was obviously not a furniture or supply company.
In yet another allegation contained in the five-page petition, the Anti- corruption Network said Umar awarded the contract for the supply of a Toyota Prado Jeep in the sum of N15,273,000 without following due process for procurement.
“The contract was awarded to one Maigoro Engineering Nig. Ltd. This company was an engineering company and not a car dealership. But Danladi Umar foisted the company on the CCT. This is a gross abuse of office and a violation of procurement regulations”, the group stated in the petition.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA
