Court trying Maina rises abruptly as ex-pension boss collapses

The former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, collapsed during his prosecution at a Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday.

This happened when his counsel, Anayo Adibe, was addressing the court on his no-case submission before Justice Okon Abang.

Before Maina’s collapse, his counsel had asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to get records of the proceedings of the court so as to prepare for the no-case submission he intends to file on behalf of his client.

The court had to rise abruptly to enable officials of the correctional service and relations of the former pension boss to attend to him.

The matter had been postponed from Wednesday for the defendant to argue his no-case submission and for the prosecution to respond to the same orally.

The Federal Government is prosecuting Maina on 12 counts of fraud and money laundering.

Maina’s ill-health has been a major reason for his prolonged trial. In November 2019, his trial was stalled after a medical expert testified to his inability to appear before the court due to health reasons.

He was recently extradited from the Niger Republic after he jumped bail and escaped the country.