‘Money laundering’: Maina seeks fresh bail on health grounds

Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), has filed a fresh application before a federal high court in Abuja, seeking to be released from the Kuje correctional centre on bail for health grounds.

Maina, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 12 counts bordering on money laundering to the tune of N2 billion, was granted bail granted bail in the sum of N1 billion on November 25, 2019.

Unable to meet the bail conditions, Okon Abang reduced the bail sum to N500 million and asked the former PRTT chairman to produce one surety who must be a serving senator and own a landed property in one of the choicest areas within the federal capital territory (FCT).

Ali Ndume, a senator from Borno state, who had agreed to be Maina’s surety was, however, remanded in prison after the defendant jumped bail and went into hiding.

Ndume, who was later granted bail, withdrew his suretyship for the defendant.

Maina was later arrested in Niger and extradited to Nigeria to continue his trial.

Okon Abang, the presiding judge, had ordered that Maina be remanded at Kuje correctional centre until the end of his trial.

However, Anayo Adibe, Maina’s lawyer, said his client health has severely declined and he needs proper medical attention outside the prison facility.

At the court session on Wednesday, Adibe informed the court of his client’s pending bail application.

He outlined four grounds for consideration by the court, one of which “is the fact that Maina had collapsed in open court” on December 10, 2020.

Adibe said if granted bail, Maina has “responsible persons” to stand as sureties for him.

However, the bail application could not be heard due to inconveniences.

The judge has fixed February 1 to hear the application.