A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has ruled that a statement implicating the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Yakubu Umar, in a N10 million bribery case was freely made by his Personal Assistant and Protocol Officer, Ali Gambo Abdullahi.

The court therefore dismissed the claim by Abdullahi that the implicating statement he made in 2013 was done under duress and inducement from the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Abdullahi’s denial of his first statement made on August 12, 2013 on the bribery case prompted a trial within trial by Justice Orji to determine his claim of duress before admitting the statement in evidence as exhibit.

Abdullahi had been invited by EFCC following a petition by a retired Deputy Customs Comptroller, Mr. Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi, that he channeled the bribe through the defendant to the CCT boss.

Abdullahi said the CCT chairman met severally in his chamber the accused person, Owolabi, who was standing trial before the court on false assets declaration charges.

Justice Orji described as an afterthought, the claim by Abdullahi that he acted under coercion and fixed March 27 for continuation of trial of the defendant. (Oludare Richards/The Guardian)

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