Abdulrasheed Maina, the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, has been refused a fresh bail application by a Federal High Court in Abuja. He will remain in prison.
The bail appeal was refused by Justice Ahmed Mohammed after an appeal was moved by Maina’s counsel, Mr David Iorhemba, on the grounds that it was contentious, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday evening.
The report added that Counsel to the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Andrew Ocholi, opposed the application, stating that he had filed a counter-affidavit and a preliminary objection to show that Maina was no longer entitled to bail.
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The Judge rejected the ruling on the basis that the application was contentious and could not be heard during the court’s vacation, and also returned the case to Justice Okon Abang, who has been the trial judge in the substantive case, to hear the bail application after the court’s vacation.
Maina is being tried alongside his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd, on a 12-count charge, including offences of laundering over N1 billion.
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Recall Nairametrics reported in December 2020 that Abdulrasheed Maina collapsed during his prosecution at a Federal High Court in Abuja. 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.
Maina was extradited from the Niger Republic after he jumped bail and escaped the country.
