Maina to stay in prison as court denies former pension boss bail, gives crucial reason
- Former pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina, may have to stay in prison as his corruption trial continues
- This is as a Federal High Court in Abuja denied him bail on the ground that he is a proven flight risk
- Maina who had earlier jumped bail and fled Nigeria was arrested in the Niger Republic and brought back to the country to face his trial
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has denied bail to the former chairman of the defunct pension reform task team Abdulrasheed Maina, TVC reported.
The presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, noted that the court took a risk by granting Maina bail the first time.
Justice Abang added that the court is not inclined to take such risk the second time, holding that the defendant is not only a potential flight risk but a proven flight risk.
Source: Facebook
The judge said the medical report attached by Maina in support of his application does not show that he needs the urgent attention of a doctor or there is an emergency.
In another ruling, the court also refused to vacate its earlier order which states that the trial can go on in absence of the defendant.
The court held that the decision was made with the consent of the defendant's former counsel and that decision cannot be appealed without the leave of the court.
Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to Monday, March 1, for the defendant to open his defence.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Maina, who had fled Nigeria, was rounded up on the night of Monday, November 30, 2020, by the operatives of the intelligence service in Nigeria in a town in the Niger Republic.
A top intelligence officer said that the arrest was made possible due to an existing mutual relationship and security agreement between the two neighbouring countries.
Maina is facing a 12-count money laundering charge to the tune of about N2 billion levelled against him and a firm by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
*******
Nurudeen Lawal is a Legit.ng journalist passionate about fact-checking/verification journalism. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature-in-English from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. As Politics Editor, Nurudeen mostly writes on Nigeria’s political and socio-economic developments. He has attended different workshops, conferences and training on fact-checking and digital reporting, among others. Learn more about him on Twitter, @Nurudeen Lawal_
Source: Legit.ng
