The counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mohammed Abubakar said Faisal, son of the former chairman of the defunct Pension Reformesneaked d Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina has fled to the United States.
Faisal who is standing trial on charges of money laundering had jumped bail refusing to attend trial since November 24, 2020.
At the court, the anti-gray agency lawyer, Abubakar told the trial judge, Justice Abang Okon that from the information at the disposal of the commission, Faisal Maina sneaked to the USA through the Republic of Nigeria despite his Nigerian and American passports in the custody of the court.
“We have a bench warrant of the court for the arrest of the defendant and his apprehension before the court,” he said.
”We have been making serious efforts to execute the bench warrant but it has met challenges. The defendant has absconded to the USA.”
However, Faisal Maina’s lawyer, Anayo Adibe disputed the claim of the prosecution as he insists that his client was arrested by the Police in Sokoto. He urged the court to open an inquiry as to the true whereabouts of his client.
“The defendant personally called me the day he was taken into custody in Sokoto. Since then, every effort made to reach the defendant has been abortive. His phones are switched off.
“We are afraid for his life. We urge the court to cause an inquiry into the whereabouts of the defendant,” Adibe told the court.
Earlier in the course of the sitting, Justice Abang, in a committal proceeding, ordered Faisal’s surety, who is a member of the House of Representatives, Sani Dan-Galadima representing Kaura-Namoda Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, to forfeit a N60million property used as a bail bond.
The further trial has been adjourned to March 31, 2021.
