Money Laundering: ‘Maina Had No Reason To Jump Bail’ – Judge

Justice Okong Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, refused to adjourn the money laundering trial of the embattled former Chairman of the Pension Reform Taskforce Team, Abulrasheed Maina, saying the defendant was not supposed to jump bail.

Maina is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

At today’s (Tuesday) continuation of trial, Maina’s new lawyer, Anayo Adibe urged the court to give him time to be briefed on the case, arguing that Maina’s former lawyer, Mr. Gadzama and the court registrar were yet to provide him with the record of proceedings and charge sheet.

“We had entered appearance in this matter last Friday, 4th December 2020; we did apply for a short date to do the needful, we applied to the registry of this court for the record of proceedings to be made available to us.

“We did also apply to the counsel who withdrew his appearance for the first defendant to oblige us with a copy of the charge sheet as well as the list of documents and evidence.

“I pray that the first Defendant be afforded his constitutional right of being defended by a counsel of his choice and that adequate time and facility be afforded him for the purpose of this matter,” he said.

But Justice Abang countered him, saying “that’s not the business of the court; defendant had counsel up to the last adjourned date; he had counsel before,” he responded.

On his part, the prosecution counsel, Faruk Abdulah, urged the court to go on with the trial.

“I appreciate the fact that this court is a very busy court and it has given us a spacious time and the prosecution will not take this for granted.

“The defense counsel is in charge of his brief and as such we can’t tell him what to do; this matter is slated for continuation of trial and the prosecution is ready,” he said.

In his ruling, Abang said that Maina is not a new comer in the matter and that the lawyers must cross examine the witness.

“The issue here is not that the first Defendant is coming into the court for the first time.

“The Defendant has been part of this proceeding, he only jumped bail when he had no reason.

“It is for the former counsel, Gadzama, to hand over the case file to the new counsel for adequate representation.

“Learned counsel should be ready to cross examine the witness or will be foreclosed.

“Application for adjournment is accordingly refused,” he said.

THE WHISTLER earlier reported that the court had ordered that Maina be remanded in correctional centre pending the conclusion of the trial after faulting him for jumping bail.

He was extradited back to the country ( having jumped bail) after his arrest in Niger Republic by a coordinated security team.

The order for his arrest was issued by Justice Abang but his trial had continued in absentia.