Fraud Suspect Abdulrasheed Maina fresh bail request fails

Pensions fraud suspect Abdulrasheed Maina has failed in his renewed bid to get a bail. Maina was formerly Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, a vacation judge after hearing the bail application said the request was contentious and, therefore, declined to grant it. 

Mohammed rather held that Maina’s fresh bail would be decided by the substantive trial judge, Okon Abang. 

Prior to the ruling, the EFCC’s counsel told the court he had filed a counter to the bail application. According to him, Maina was no longer entitled to a bail having previously ran away from trial until his arrest. 

The former PRTT boss is being tried alongside his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd, on a 12-count charge.

They are accused, among other offences, of laundering over N1 billion.

They were first arraigned on Oct. 25, 2019, following which Justice Abang ordered that Maina be remanded in the Custodial Centre at Kuje, pending a hearing of his bail application.

Credit: NAN