Alleged N2b pension fraud: Maina gets N1b bail

Eric Ikhilae

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Chairman of defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTM), Abdulrasheed Maina, at N1 billion.

Maina is standing trial before the court on alleged diversion of public funds estimated at about N2 billion, among other money laundering-related offences.

In a ruling yesterday, Justice Okon Abang also ordered Maina to produce two sureties who must be serving senators.

The sureties, the judge said, must not be standing any criminal trial in any court in the country.

The judge added that the two sureties, who must each sign a N500 million bond, should always accompany Maina to court.

He said the sureties could be from any part of the country, but must have landed property fully developed in Asokoro or Maitama District of Abuja with statutory certificates of occupancy (C of O) issued by relevant departments in the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The Chief Registrar of this court shall, in writing, ascertain the validity or otherwise of the certificates of occupancy,” Justice Abang said.

The judge said the sureties shall each submit three years’ tax clearance certificates.

He ordered the defendant to deposit his United States (U.S.A) passports with the court’s Chief Registrar, pending the conclusion of trial.

“The defendant shall also deposit to the Chief Registrar of this court his Nigerian international passports, his official and diplomatic passports, if any, whether or not these passports have expired.

“Where the first defendant does not have official or diplomatic passports, a letter from Immigration Service shall be obtained in this effect,” he held.

Justice Abang averred that the sureties shall undertake to appear in court with the first defendant at all adjourned dates, pending conclusion of trial.

“Where at least one of the sureties is not in court with the defendant, the court shall be at liberty to revoke the bail of the 1st defendant and accordingly order him to be remanded,” Justice Abang said.

He added that the sureties should also file affidavit of means with two passport photographs attached to them and ascertain their capability to pay the bail sum to the Federal Government or the Federal High Court in the event they are called to do so.

The judge ordered the prosecution, through the investigating police officer (IPO), to, in writing, ascertain the homes of the sureties to be in FCT, Abuja.

Read Also: Court grants Maina N1bn bail

He adjourned further proceedings till November 26.

Unlike the case in his last two appearances in court, Maina walked to the courtroom, on the second floor of the courthouse, unaided.

He supported himself with a walking stick.

Before ruling on the bail application, Justice Abang noted that even when the prosecution lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar, filed a counter-affidavit to oppose Maina’s bail application, the defence lawyer failed to file further affidavit to counter the issues raised by the prosecution.

He said despite the unchallenged evidence contained in the prosecution’s counter-affidavit, “I will take a risk in the interest of fair hearing.”

The judge noted that although the prosecution gave reasons why Maina should not be granted bail, the defendant was still innocent until the contrary is proved.

Although Maina had, in his bail application, assured that he would attend court regularly and not tamper with prosecution witnesses, the prosecution argued otherwise, insisting, among others that he is a flight risk.