EFCC returns Maina to court — months after he jumped bail

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought Abdulrasheed Maina before a federal high court in Abuja — months after he jumped bail and went into hiding in Niger Republic. 

Maina, former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), who is on trial for alleged money laundering to the tune of N2 billion, stopped attending proceedings in September setting Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, who stood as his surety against the law.

Okon Abang, judge of the trial court, revoked Maina’s bail and remanded his surety in prison. He later granted Ndume bail on account of ”good behaviour”.

The judge continued Maina’s trial in absentia.

On Monday, Maina was arrested in Niger Republic where he had taken refuge, and was extradited to Nigeria on Thursday.

Joe Gadzama, Maina’s counsel, had abandoned the case and notified the court of his decision to quit as the former pension chief’s legal representative.

The EFCC alleged that Maina fraudulently bought a house for $2 million in Abuja and maintained several banks account containing huge sums of money — above his income as a civil servant.