EFCC ENLISTS US, NIGER'S SUPPORT TO ARREST MAINA
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday stated that it has sought help of the Niger Republic and United States of America Governments to arrest Abdulrasheed Maina, a fleeing former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team.
The anti-graft agency stated this in a counter-affidavit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja to oppose the bail application filed by the Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, who has been detained in prison since Monday over his suretyship for Maina, who has jumped bail in his N2bn money laundering trial.
The EFCC stated that it was making frantic efforts to get Maina arrested based on the warrant issued by the court on November 18, and had enlisted the support of other security agencies and foreign Governments to that effect.
“That to the misleading deposition in paragraph 4(xxii) of the supporting affidavit, I know as a fact that the prosecution has obtained the bench warrant and is making frantic efforts to execute it, while enlisting the support of other security agencies in the country as well as some foreign governments, particularly the Republic of Niger and the United States of America,” the affidavit read in part.
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The trial Judge, Justice Okon Abang fixed today (Friday) for the continuation of hearing on Ndume’s bail application.
On November 18, 2020, Justice Abang ruled that Maina had jumped bail, having been absent from trial on four previous occasions since September 29, 2020.
The judge thereby revoked the bail granted him, ordered his arrest, and directed that his trial should proceed in absentia.
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Justice Abang directed security agencies to track and arrest Maina who is facing a 12-count criminal charge levied against him by the EFCC.
The judge also on Monday, November 23, remanded Ndume at Kuje Correctional Centre, until he produced Maina or paid the N500m bail bond to the Federation Account.
Ndume, on Tuesday, filed an appeal against the remand order at the Court of Appeal, and an application for his bail before Justice Abang.
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