Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered that a former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Center pending the conclusion of his trial.
Maina’s counsel Francis Orusanya, Friday, withdrew from the case with his new counsel, Abel Adaji, requesting for an adjournment to enable him study the case.
Counsel to the Nigeria Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mohammed Abubakar, urged the court that Maina be remanded in custody with the Nigerian Correctional Service, reminding the court of a bench warrant it issued against the defendant on November 18.
“We apply for the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending his trial, his earlier bail having been revoked,” he said.
Mr. Abang granted the application for adjournment, noting that the defendant, who is said to be innocent, is entitled to legal representation.
He adjourned the case till December 8 for the continuation of the trial. Maina is facing a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering by the EFCC.
Mr. Maina, a former chairperson of the pension task force, has been absent in court on multiple occasions and was declared wanted when the court believed he had jumped bail.
He was re-arrested in Niamey, the Niger Republic capital through a collaboration between intelligence operatives of Niger and their counterparts in Nigeria.
He was extradited back to Nigeria on Thursday for the continuation of his trial.
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