Court revokes Maina’s bail, orders arrest

A federal high court in Abuja has revoked the bail of Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).

At the sitting on Wednesday, Okon Abang, the judge, ordered that Maina be arrested wherever he is found.

The former pension boss, who was granted bail in 2019, has not been appearing in court for trial over alleged fraud.

Maina is standing trial for alleged money laundering to the tune of N2 billion — a case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The anti-graft agency on October 25 arraigned Maina alongside his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd, before Abang.

During Wednesday’s sitting, Mohammed Abubakar, counsel to the EFCC, told the judge that Maina has jumped bail.

Maina was said to have cut contacts with Ali Ndume, the senator representing Borno south who stood as his surety.

Ndume told the court on October 2 that he did not know the whereabouts of Maina.

He asked the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the defendant, saying he is ready to forfeit his freedom to ensure that Maina is arrested and brought before the court.

“My lord, I am constraint because I cannot take the law into my hand,” he had said.

“I had reported to the DG SSS, the AIG of police investigation. I even wrote to police commissioner and I also reported the case to DPO of Jabi where the defendant resides.

“But my lord, even if I see Maina today, I can’t force him to come to court. I am appealing to you to issue a warrant on him.”

Francis Oronsaye, Maina’s counsel, had told the court that his client was at Maitama General Hospital receiving treatment.

In a viral video released on October 9, the former pension boss said he needed six weeks to recover from a knee cap injury.