Judge gets CJ’s nod to continue ‘2.1bn fraud’ case against Maina

The case of Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), will continue on Friday before a federal high court in Abuja.

Maina was arraigned before Okon Abang, a judge, on October 25, 2019, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Limited, but he pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.

Abang is also the presiding judge in the trial of Maina’s son.

But the judge was recently transferred to the court’s division in Warri.

This development prompted the EFCC to apply to John Tsoho, chief judge of the federal high court, for a fiat to allow Abang conclude some of the cases he started, including Maina’s matter.

When a judge is transferred before delivering judgment in a case, the case will have to start afresh if another judge takes over.

The case can, however, continue only where parties in the suit apply for the fiat to allow the presiding judge to conclude the matter irrespective of his or her new posting.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) hearing notices have been issued to parties in the matter.

Mohammed Abubakar, EFCC counsel, said: “I have been served with hearing notice for Maina.”