Pension fraud: Maina's lawyer says senators ‘reluctant’ to stand surety for his client
Fri Feb 07, 2020 08:36:am National
1.3K By Afam Jude Offor
Abdulrasheed Maina, a former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), would continue to remain in detention despite the bail granted him by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
According to reports, Maina's lawyer, Afam Osigwe, told the court on Thursday, February 6, that his client is having difficulty meeting the conditions of his bail, adding that senators are reluctant to stand as surety to him. Legit.ng gathered that Osigwe made this known during the ongoing criminal trial of Maina over alleged fraud and abuse of office. The Judge Okon Abang, Who is presiding over the case had asked Maina's lawyer if the defendant has being able to perfect his bail conditions. Responding, Osigwe said: “Unfortunately, senators are reluctant to stand in for Maina.” Maina’s lawyer further said he was trying to explore other strategies to ensure that the bail conditions are fully complied with. It would be recalled that Maina is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering, operating fictitious accounts and other fraudulent activities. The former PRTT chairman, who was in hiding for almost two years, was arrested by the Department Security Service (DSS). Maina was then handed over to the EFCC, which had declared him wanted for over a year. The former pension boss was arraigned on October 25, 2019, and pleaded not guilty to the 12-count charge of N100 billion pension fraud brought against him. Justice Abang had held that the sureties must be serving senators with no criminal case pending in court and must own landed properties in Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja. The judge added that the senators must attend proceeding at every adjourned date for the trial. Unable to meet those bail conditions, the former PRTT chairman through his lawyer appealed to the court to vary the bail conditions. Following Maina’s plea, the court adjusted the bail sum to N500 million and ordered him to produce one surety with a landed property fully developed in Maitama, Asokoro, central business district, Wuse 2 and Katampe, all in Abuja. The judge said, the defendant must, “produce one surety who must be a Nigerian and a serving senator, who must not be standing any criminal trial in court.
According to reports, Maina's lawyer, Afam Osigwe, told the court on Thursday, February 6, that his client is having difficulty meeting the conditions of his bail, adding that senators are reluctant to stand as surety to him. Legit.ng gathered that Osigwe made this known during the ongoing criminal trial of Maina over alleged fraud and abuse of office. The Judge Okon Abang, Who is presiding over the case had asked Maina's lawyer if the defendant has being able to perfect his bail conditions. Responding, Osigwe said: “Unfortunately, senators are reluctant to stand in for Maina.” Maina’s lawyer further said he was trying to explore other strategies to ensure that the bail conditions are fully complied with. It would be recalled that Maina is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering, operating fictitious accounts and other fraudulent activities. The former PRTT chairman, who was in hiding for almost two years, was arrested by the Department Security Service (DSS). Maina was then handed over to the EFCC, which had declared him wanted for over a year. The former pension boss was arraigned on October 25, 2019, and pleaded not guilty to the 12-count charge of N100 billion pension fraud brought against him. Justice Abang had held that the sureties must be serving senators with no criminal case pending in court and must own landed properties in Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja. The judge added that the senators must attend proceeding at every adjourned date for the trial. Unable to meet those bail conditions, the former PRTT chairman through his lawyer appealed to the court to vary the bail conditions. Following Maina’s plea, the court adjusted the bail sum to N500 million and ordered him to produce one surety with a landed property fully developed in Maitama, Asokoro, central business district, Wuse 2 and Katampe, all in Abuja. The judge said, the defendant must, “produce one surety who must be a Nigerian and a serving senator, who must not be standing any criminal trial in court.
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