Federal High Court Denies Maina’s Request For Bail

By Edna Wande On Dec 8, 2020

Former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina

Federal High Court in Abuja has on Tuesday rejected another request by former Chairman of defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina for an adjournment to prepare for his defence.

Justice Okon Abang ruled that the decision to grant the application was at court’s discretion, adding that such a plea was a ploy to waste the judicial time of the court, NAN reports.

Economics and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) lawyer, Farouk Abdullah, told the court that the matter was slated for continuation.

However, Anayo Adibe, Maina’s new counsel, objected on grounds that the legal team was just taking over the case and needed adequate time to prepare.

Reacting, Justice Abang noted that since the matter resumed on September 29, Maina did not appear in court until a bench warrant was issued against him.

The judge said the issue of fair hearing was not applicable saying;

The issue before the court has to be properly made not on a sentimental basis. The 1st defendant (Maina) jumped bail without reason to do so.

He noted that if Maina’s new counsel needed the case file, it was expected that the former counsel would hand over the file to the new lawyer, stressing;

And if Joe Gadzama (former counsel) fails, the new counsel knows what to do. An administrative letter to a registrar cannot serve as a stay of proceeding. The new counsel cannot drag us into his own internal affairs.

Justice Abang, who noted that Maina had been offered adequate opportunity and time for his defence, refused to grant his application.

Maina was arraigned before the judge on October 25, 2019, by EFCC alongside his son, Faisal Maina and firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd.

He is facing a 12-count charged bordering on money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.

Via NAN.