EFCC presents ex-pension boss Maina in court

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has finally presented a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, Abulrasheed Maina, at Friday’s proceedings of his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Maina slammed with N2bn money laundering charges by the EFCC had jumped bail and fled to Republic of Niger.

He was extradited to Nigeria on Thursday about two weeks after the court revoked his bail, ordered his arrest and directed that his trial would proceed in his absence pending when security agencies would be able to apprehend him.

He was produced in court at about 8.27am ahead of the proceedings scheduled to commence by 9am on Friday.

Maina last attended court in July and has subsequently missed up to six court sessions since September 29.

His trial has since proceeded in his absence following the court’s order of November 18, 2020, which the judge, Justice Okon Abang, issued following the defendant’s repeated absence from court.

Unable to produce the defendant, his surety, Senator Ali Ndume, was imprisoned by the court but later granted bail after spending five days in detention.