A prosecution witness has told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja how he allegedly paid N6 million into the bank account of Danladi Yakubu Umar’s wife and about N4 million for the former Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) chairman’s two children’s university fees.
The witness, Oluwatayo Solomon Fashogbon, disclosed this on Thursday, October 29, while testifying in the trial of Umar before Justice U.P. Kekemeke.
Umar is facing a four-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged nepotism and conferring corrupt advantage on himself, involving N15.58 million.
Fashogbon, Chief Executive Officer of Portal Realities Limited and JTF Global Links Limited, appeared as the first prosecution witness.
He told the court that Umar allegedly instructed him to transfer N6 million to the Zenith Bank account of his wife, Zulaihatu Danladi Umar, on January 25, 2024.
According to the witness, the payment was made two days after his company received the fourth instalment of payment for a contract awarded by the CCT.
He said the contract, valued at about N140 million, was awarded to JTF Global Links Limited in September 2021 for the digitisation of the tribunal’s personnel records, stores, accounts and online filing systems.
Fashogbon told the court that his company received four instalments under the contract, with the fourth payment of about N17 million made on January 23, 2024.
He said Umar contacted him two days later and instructed him to pay N6 million into his wife’s account.
The witness further told the court that he facilitated the payment of about N4 million for the university education of Umar’s two children in October 2024.
He said the payments, made through the Jaiz Bank account of Portal Realities Limited, covered the school fees of Umar’s son, Yakubu Danladi Umar, and daughter, Faiza Umar Danladi, at Baze University.
Fashogbon also explained how he secured the CCT contract, saying Umar had directed him to submit his company’s documents to the tribunal’s Procurement Department in September 2021.
He added that the then Deputy Director of Procurement, Akinola Akanji, subsequently informed him on September 22, 2021, that the contract had been awarded to his company.
The prosecution tendered the contract award letter, which was admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibit A.
During cross-examination, defence counsel, S. Edward, questioned the witness on his qualifications to execute public contracts.
However, Fashogbon maintained that his company was qualified, citing previous engagements with the CCT and other government institutions.
He also insisted that the contracts were awarded based on his company’s qualifications and submitted documents.
The case was adjourned until January 20, 2027, for continuation of hearing.
