Maina to remain in prison till trial ends

EFCC made the appeal in court, citing Maina had already jumped bail

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, ordered that the arrested fugitive and former Chairman, the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, be remanded at a correctional centre, pending conclusion of his trial.

Justice Okon Abang gave the order following counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mohammed Abubakar’s oral application to the effect.

At the resumed hearing, Abubakar, urged the court to make an order for Maina’s remand in correctional centre having been produced in court after jumping bail.

He said Maina was produced in court following the court order for his bail revocation and issuance of bench warrant for his arrest.

However, Maina’s new counsel, Abel Adaji, opposed the EFCC counsel application.

Adaji, who appealed to the court not to grant Abubakar’s request, said he would have filed a process in response to his application “but the exigency of time will not allow us to do that.”

EFCC had, on Friday, produced Maina in court after his extradition to Nigeria from Republic of Niger.

Maina, who is being prosecuted by the EFCC on N2 billion money laundering charges, had jumped bail and fled to the country.

Maina last attended court in July and had subsequently missed up to six court sessions since Sept. 29.

Besides, his surety, Sen. Ali Ndume, was imprisoned by the court for his inability to produce him in court but later granted him bail after spending five days in detention. (NAN)