* CCT Chairman Sued Over Money Laundering, Bribery A group, Mission for Peace and Development Initiative, has filed a suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking an order removing the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, on grounds of alleged corruption. The group, through its lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), also sought an order compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to execute the instruction of the Attorney-General of the Federation, then Mohammed Adoke (SAN), for Umar’s prosecution for alleged bribery and other related offences. The plaintiff alleged that Umar met secretly with an accused person standing trial before him, in the absence of the prosecution or court officials. Joined as defendants to the suit are Umar, CCT, EFCC and the Attorney General of the Federation. The plaintiff wants the court to declare that Umar “is not a fit and proper person to sit in judgment and preside over the affairs of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.” It anchored its prayers on the provisions of Rules 1, 5 (1) & (11), Rules 3, F, L, of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, Fifth Schedule Part 1, Paragraph 7 (B) Paragraph 9, 13, Part 11 & Paragraph 12 of the Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as altered, Sections 5, 10 (1), 13, 17 & 22 (3) of The Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. It seeks a declaration that by virtue of the combined effect of the provisions of Section 6 (b), (h) and Section 7 (1) (a) and (b) & (2) of the EFCC Act, the anti-graft agency “is under a statutory duty and obligation to prosecute the 1st defendant (Umar) having investigated him (1st defendant), and found him culpable of the offences of conspiracy, bribery, abuse of office and money laundering, and having actually prepared a charge sheet against him, which charge has inexplicably not been filed till date.” It also seeks an order Umar to vacate “his sacred position as Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (2nd defendant), and hands off the trial of any Nigerian, having confessed to corruption and admitted meeting with an accused person standing trial before him, exparte, in the absence of the prosecution and court officials.”]]>