SAN FRANCISCO, November 24, (THEWILL) – Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday commenced the trial of the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, in his absence.
Maina, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on N2bn money laundering charges, last attended court on July 2, 2020, during the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness by his legal team.
He had however failed to attend subsequent proceedings since September 29, 2020, prompting the judge to adjudge him as having jumped bail in a ruling delivered on November 18, 2020.
The judge in the November 18 ruling, revoked the bail earlier granted him, ordered his arrest, and directed that his trial would proceed in his absence.
On Monday, Justice Abang ordered Senator Ali Ndume, a bail surety for Maina, to be remanded in Kuje prison until he is able to produce the fleeing defendant in court or pay the N500m bail bond to the Federal Government.
Maina was again absent at the resumed hearing in the case on Tuesday. There was also no lawyer to represent him or his company charged along with him as his second defendant.
Following the request of the prosecuting counsel, Mohammed Abubakar, the judge closed the right of Maina to continue cross-examining the sixth prosecution.
He also foreclosed the second defendant’s right to cross-examine the witness.
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