A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of the senator from Borno state, Ali Ndume, over the non appearance of former Chairman of the defunct Pension Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who he stood as surety for.
KanyiDaily recalls that Maina was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja, for allegedly diverting public funds while he was the pension boss.
The former pension boss pleaded not guilty to the 12-count charge bordering on money laundering, operating fictitious bank accounts and fraud filed against him by the EFCC.
He was initially admitted to bail in the sum of N1bn with two sureties in like sum. Both sureties must be serving Nigerian senators with no criminal cases before the court and must have fully developed landed property in Maitama or Asokoro district of Abuja.
After being unable to meet his bail term, the judge varied the bail for Maina to produce one senator, who must sign a bail bond in the sum of N500m and accompany Maina to court on every trial day.
Ndume, subsequently agreed to stand surety for Maina but rather than present original documents, he submitted forged documents to the court to bail the pension boss who was released on Monday evening, July 27, 2020.
It was gathered that Senaor Ndume presented the property documents of a house owned by one Ahmed Lawal, deceiving the court that it was his.
Ater he was granted bail, Maina has repeatedly failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial.
During its sitting on Monday, November 23, the court ordered that Ndume be remanded in Kuje prison over his inability to produce Maina who has been on the run.
Justice Okon Abang, who delivered the judgement, ordered Ndume’s remand pending the fulfillment of his bail bond, which is a forfeiture of N500 million to the federal government.
The court also empowered the federal government to sell Senator Ndume’s property at Asokoro in order to recover the N500 million bond.
Justice Abang added that Ndume will be released from Kuje once he is able to pay the N500 million or if the prosector is able to dispose of the property and payment made to the federal government.
KanyiDaily had reported how Maina was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at a hotel in Abuja after allegedly sneaking into the country from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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