Maina didn’t plot to assassinate anyone, says lawyer

Abass Sanni, lawyer to Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), says his client did not threaten to assassinate, harass or intimidate any of the prosecutors involved in his trial.

Maina, who is standing trial on 12 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, is asking the court to further vary the bail conditions granted to him to enable him regain freedom.

But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asked the court to revoke the defendant’s bail and keep him in detention until the case is concluded.

Mohammed Abubakar, counsel to the EFCC had claimed that the former PRTT chairman has perfected plans to assassinate him and key witnesses in the case.

However, responding to the allegations on Thursday, Sanni said the EFCC counsel is deliberately misleading the court, so as to ensure that the court does not favourably consider the application to further vary the terms and conditions of the bail granted to Maina.

He said Maina “has never threatened to assassinate, harass and or intimidate any of the prosecutors, correctional service officers or witnesses whatsoever in this matter or in any other matter.

“He will never threaten, harass and or intimidate any of the prosecutors or witnesses in this matter.

“He cannot even travel out or move out of the country as he has been put under a travel ban and all his international passports (Nigerian and American) have all been handed over to the high court of the federal capital territory, pursuant to an order made by the learned trial judge, Abubakar Kutigi, J. in Charge No. FCT/HC/CR/24/19, on November 28, 2019.

“He does not have access to funds as the EFCC has frozen all his accounts as well as obtained orders of the court temporarily forfeiting all his assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria pending the determination of the matters against him.”

Sanni added that his client would not attempt to evade trial or interfere with witnesses in the case.

“He will never attempt to evade his trial. He strongly believes in his innocence and will remain in Nigeria until he clears himself of all the malicious allegations the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission has fed the public against him,” Sani said.

“He has never and will never attempt to influence, interfere with, intimidate witnesses, and or interfere in the prosecution of any of the cases involving him.”