Court waters down Maina’s bail conditions

A federal high court in Abuja has further varied the bail conditions granted to Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).

Moving an application for a further variation of bail conditions, Joe Gadzama, Maina’s counsel, had informed the court on the last adjourned date that Ndume has agreed to stand as a surety for his client.

He, however, noted that the condition that requires the surety having a certificate of occupancy of a landed property in Abuja has also not been met.

Gazama prayed the court to accept a “certified irrevocable power of attorney” issued to Ndume in the name of one Lawal Ahmed, the previous owner of the land.

Ruling on the application on Monday, Okon Abang, the presiding judge, said since the defendant has complied with the main condition of producing a surety, the court would accept the irrevocable power of attorney to replace the certificate of occupancy.

“On compassionate grounds, the court would accept the irrevocable power of attorney to replace the certificate of occupancy with respect of the property pledged as security for the bail of the defendant.”

Abang, however, refused to vary the condition that requires the surety to attend trial with the defendant and sign a register of attendance on every date fixed for trial.

He said since Ndume already deposed to an affidavit dated May 5, stating that he would abide by the conditions, no other deponent can come before the court claiming that the surety cannot fulfill the condition of making appearances in court.

Laila Maina, wife of the defendant, had deposed to an affidavit stating that the surety said he would not be able to attend trial with the accused.

Abang ruled that the affidavits “amounts to documentary hearsay and cannot be used to set aside facts deposed to by the surety.”

He urged Maina not to jump bail being aware of the sacrifice being made by the surety.

The case has been adjourned to July 2 for continuation.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Maina on 12 counts of money laundering on October 25, 2019.