SECURITY OPERATIVES ARREST MAINA IN NIGER REPUBLIC
Fleeing former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, has been arrested in Niger Republic.
Maina, who is facing a 12-count money laundering charge leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was apprehended by operatives of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency and the Niger Republic Intelligence Service.
Reports confirmed that Maina was arrested on Monday evening, November 30 somewhere in the Niger Republic and would be brought into Nigeria Tuesday or Wednesday.
According to reports, a top intelligence officer said that the arrest was made possible due to an existing mutual relationship and security agreement between the two neighbouring countries.
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Maina is facing money laundering charges to the tune of about N2 billion, part of which he allegedly used to procure landed properties in Abuja, according to the EFCC.
He has fled trial and his whereabouts was unknown since his prosecution resumed on September 29, 2020, a development which made Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court order the remand of his surety, Senator Ali Ndume last Monday.
The Federal High Court in Abuja however granted the Borno South Senator bail on Friday after spending five days in Kuje Correctional Centre.
Maina last attended court on July 2, 2020, during the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness by his legal team.
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He failed to show up in court since September 29, 2020, prompting the judge, Justice Okon Abang, 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. He ordered his arrest and directed that his trial would proceed in his absence.
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