Confusion Over Maina’s Son’s Whereabouts As EFCC, Defendant Give Conflicting Information

At the resumed money laundering trial of the son of the embattled former Chairman of the Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, Faisal, at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the defendant’s counsel, Anayo Adibo, gave conflicting information about the whereabout of the defendant who had jumped bail.

On Thursday, the EFCC Counsel, M.S. Abubakar, told Justice Okon Abang that the commission had been unable to apprehend Faisal, saying that he had fled to the United States through Niger Republic.

He also said that Faisal was not in the custody of the police or the Department of State Service (DSS), as claimed in some quarters.

“We have a bench arrest of the defendant and his apprehension before the court; we have been making serious effort to implement the bench warrant, up till now.

“The defendant has absconded to the United States of America, the fact that he was arrested in Sokoto by the police was in the realm of a rumor…It is on record that the Nigerian and American passport of the defendant are in custody of this court as part of the condition of his bail.

“However, information at our disposal indicate that the defendant was able to sneak out of Nigeria to the Republic of Niger from where he was able to proceed to the U.S.A, “he said.

But Adibo objected to Abubakar’s assertion, adding that his client spoke to him on phone while being taken into police custody in Sokoto.

He argued that Faisal could not have flown to the U.S when his international passport where in court’s custody.

“On the last adjourned date, I did inform the court that the Defendant was taken into custody by men of the Nigerian Police. My Lord, the following day, media report as well as the press release by the police command in Sokoto confirmed this particular fact.

“Subsequently after, the police have been scanting with information even when we demanded to see the defendant. Let me also say, that the traveling documents is with the court, it is speculative for the prosecutor to state that the defendant was in the U.S. The defendant personally called me the day he was taking into custody but now every effort made to reach the defendant was abortive,” he said.

Reacting to their arguments, the trial judge, Justice Abang, said “I don’t know who to believe”. He later said he would work with the facts before him.

Adibo further prayed the court to grant his application which sought for the defendant to enter defense in his trial.

But the prosecution urged the court to dismiss the application due to the continued absence of the defendant from court proceedings.

“Regarding fair hearing, a defendant shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard but where the Defendant is afforded that opportunity and he failed or refused to take advantage of it; he cannot therefore turnaround and take sanctuary under section 36 of the 1999 constitution. The defendant was never denied fair hearing,” he said.

Responding, Justice Abang adjourned the matter to 31 March, 2021 “for ruling of the defendant’s application”.

The defendant’s father, Abdulrasheed is also facing separate money laundering charges before the judge.