Court Reduces Maina’s Bail Sum From N1bn To N500m

A Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Okon Abang on Tuesday varied the bail conditions given to the former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina.

Maina was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 12 counts of money laundering on October 25, 2019.

However, he was granted bail in the sum of N1billion on November 25, 2019.

Maina had been asked in the previous bail conditions by the judge to provide two sureties with properties worth N500m naira each.

According to the judge, the sureties must have landed properties fully developed in Asokoro or Maitama in the FCT.

They must also be serving senators with no criminal case in court.

Abang also ordered that one of the sureties must be present in court at every trial date.

Counsel to Maina, Afam Osigwe told the court that he had been unable to meet the bail conditions because of its stringent nature.

“I am inclined to vary the bail conditions of the defendant but it is not because of the facts placed before me by the defendant counsel,” Abang said.

Maina must also produce one surety who must be a Nigerian and a serving Senator, who must not be standing any criminal trial in court.

The senator must have fully developed landed property in any of these areas: Kamtape, Central Business District, Wuse 2, Maitama and Asokoro.

The surety shall come to court with the defendant at all adjourned date and shall sign the register open for him and go back to his business