CCT Staff Accuse Chairman Kogo Of Document Alteration After SaharaReporters’ Story, Insist Wife’s Appointment Was His Doing

Aggrieved staff of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) say they are standing by their allegations of gross misconduct and violations of existing laws against the Chairman, Mainasara Umar Ibrahim Kogo, as earlier reported on April 21, 2026.

In a fresh response, the staff accused the Chairman of attempting to misrepresent facts in his reaction to the report published the following day. 

They further claimed that his denial has raised additional concerns, alleging it has exposed new issues, including claims of forgery and document alteration allegedly carried out hours after the publication, which they say further implicate him in the controversy.

The workers also rejected his defence regarding the alleged employment of his wife at the tribunal, describing his claim that she was “erroneously employed” by others and that he promptly disowned the appointment as untrue.

Appointment of Tribunal Chairman’s Wife

“The constitutional mandate to appoint staff members of the Tribunal resides squarely with the Chairman and members of the Tribunal. In this instance, Mr. Kogo single-handedly conducted the recruitment and appointment of the sixty-six (66) staff members engaged by the Tribunal last year,” the workers stated in a statement sent to SaharaReporters.

“It is therefore inconceivable that ‘some people’ could have employed his wife without his knowledge or authority.”

They also faulted his claim that he directed his wife to resign in the same month she was employed. The aggrieved staff insisted that, contrary to this assertion, his wife, Zainab Aliyu, has remained on the tribunal’s payroll since July 1, 2025, and has continued to receive salaries through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) from August 2025 to date.

According to them, Aliyu was appointed on Grade Level 08, Step 2, with an appointment letter dated June 16, 2025, referenced CCT/HQ/837/P/1. Her initial annual consolidated salary was put at ₦1,512,756.00, with the appointment taking effect from July 1, 2025.

Following the SaharaReporters report of April 21, 2026, the staff accused Mr Kogo of attempting to mislead the public and cover his tracks by hastily processing and approving a resignation letter dated October 14, 2025, to halt Zainab’s salary on April 22, 2026.

They alleged that the Chairman had previously declined to approve the request until after the publication. Instead of issuing a fresh approval, he was said to have backdated his endorsement to October 14, 2025, predating the Director’s request.

Records, however, indicate that the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr Francis Ogar, had, on October 27, 2025, minuted the letter seeking approval for the stoppage of her salary.

The staff argued that this amounts to a material alteration of records and could constitute forgery, as the endorsement was allegedly made on a date when it did not exist.

They further noted that the Federal Character Commission’s approval for the recruitment exercise was conditional on its participation and oversight, a requirement intended to ensure equitable distribution of appointments in line with constitutional provisions. However, they claimed the Commission was not involved in the process carried out by Mr Kogo.

According to the staff, the outcome was a heavily skewed recruitment exercise in which his wife, relatives, and close associates were appointed, with more than 85 percent of those recruited said to be from his region. 

They added that Mr Kogo has not denied these allegations, nor responded to claims that he vowed no individual from his region would face sanctions during his tenure, whether administratively or judicially.

Controversial Appointment Of Finance Director Under EFCC Probe

On the controversial appointment of Ogar as Director of Finance and Accounts despite an ongoing probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Kogo cited the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence.

“Under section 36… there is presumption of innocence. EFCC is only investigating him,” Mr. Kogo said in response to the controversy.

“By the time it reaches the level of him being arraigned… automatically I will sack him.”

However, citing an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) report dated April 28, 2025, the workers said it indicates there is sufficient evidence to support charges of conspiracy, abuse of office, cheating, diversion of funds, and money laundering against Mr Ogar, suggesting he was involved in financial transactions he knew to be unlawful.

They argued that, in light of these findings, his appointment to such a sensitive role within an anti-corruption tribunal is both inappropriate and difficult to justify.

Alleged Missing Files 

Addressing the claim that Mr Kogo was unaware of an internal memorandum issued by the Office of the Chief Registrar on February 24, 2026, titled “State of Emergency on Missing or Untraceable Official Files,” the staff dismissed the assertion as untenable and untrue.

They argued that, under established administrative procedures, a memorandum of such significance could not have been issued without the Chairman’s prior knowledge and approval. As such, they maintained that the document must have been released with his authorisation, making his claim of ignorance implausible.

‘Contract Irregularities’

Responding to allegations of contract irregularities and breaches of financial regulations, the staff said Mr Kogo did not directly refute the claims but instead argued that the tribunal had not received funds for capital projects. They described this assertion as false.

“The Tribunal received ₦54 million out of the ₦265 million appropriated for its 2025 capital projects. Evidence indicates that these funds were misappropriated under the guise of procuring non-existent vehicles and for other personal uses,” they stated.

‘Illegal Conversion Of Official Vehicles’

The staff further alleged that official vehicles retrieved from retired directors for reassignment have been removed from the Tribunal’s premises and are now in the Chairman’s personal custody without lawful authorisation, describing this as a clear abuse of office.

Alleged Retention Of Employment At NCCE

The staff further noted that Mr Kogo has not addressed claims that, as of October 20, 2025, he remained on the payroll of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) after obtaining a leave of absence to take up his role at the tribunal. They said this raises serious questions about adherence to public service rules on dual appointments and potential conflicts of interest.

Alleged Alteration of Court Proceedings

The staff clarified that, contrary to the Chairman’s claim, alterations are not made after proceedings but take place during proceedings in open court.

“This distinction is critical. However, since the party directly affected has chosen to challenge the substantive outcome of the ruling, we are constrained from making further pronouncements on the merits of the initial decision,” they stated.

Contrary to the Chairman’s claims, the staff maintained that no reforms have been implemented under his administration and that no bill is presently before the National Assembly.

“Retirement benefits remain unpaid, no bill exists to rename the Tribunal as the Code of Conduct and Anti-Corruption Court, and the salary adjustments he referenced were initiated by his predecessor,” they said.

“The lack of integrity in the manner in which Mainasara Kogo runs the Code of Conduct Tribunal is incompatible with the expectations of the head of an anti-corruption tribunal.

“We stand by our allegations and reiterate our recommendation that he be removed forthwith to protect the integrity of the Tribunal and maintain public trust.”