The former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, is to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Center till the conclusion of his trial.
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, gave the order on Friday, after Maina’s counsel, Francis Orusanya, withdrew from the case. The new counsel, Abel Adaji, asked for an adjournment to enable him to study and be up to date on the case.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mohammed Abubakar, asked the court that the accused be remanded in custody with the Nigerian Correctional Service.
He reminded the court of a bench warrant issued against the defendant on November 18.
According to him, “We apply for the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending his trial, his earlier bail having been revoked.”
Justice Abang granted the application for adjournment, adding that the defendant, who is said to be innocent, is entitled to legal representation.
The judge then adjourned the case till December 8 for the continuation of the trial.
Maina is under trial for a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering by the EFCC.
He was declared wanted after absenting himself from court on many occasions. He was recently arrested in Niger Republic and repatriated to face trial.
At the resumed hearing, a witness, Rouqayyah Ibrahim, told the court that the defendant purchased a property worth $2 million in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that he also purchased properties in Dubai, the United States of America and the United Arab Emirates.
