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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has kicked against the bail request of former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, alleging that he might evade arrest and flee to the United States of America.
According to a fresh document presented by the Commission, it said Maina wanted to flee to the US where he and his family are equally citizens.
It said, “After jumping court bail, Maina sneaked to the Niger Republic to obtain new travel documents at the US Embassy in Niamey to enable him flee back to the US where he and his family are equally citizens.”
The anticraft agency said that Maina sought for fresh travel documents because his earlier ones had been deposited with the Registrars of the Federal High Court and the High Crourt of the Federal Capital Territory as part of the conditions attached to the bail granted him last year by both courts.
Opposing Maina’s fresh bail application, the commission cautioned the court against admitting him to bail in view of his antecedents.
The commission frowned at the former pension boss’ claim of deteriorating health, and on which he based his fresh bail application.
The EFFC said, “The first defendant (Maina) did not suffer or undergo any treatment for any health challenge in his knee whether in Nigeria or the Niger Republic.”
It noted that it had on October 2, 2020 filed an affidavit to debunk the false claims of the first defendant about undergoing treatment of his knee at the Maitama General Hospital, Abuja.
Maina is being tried on money laundering charges before a Federal High Court in Abuja and was later found by the court to have jumped bail and fled to the Niger Republic.
He was rearrested in the neighbouring country and returned to Nigeria by security agents.
Lead prosecuting lawyer of the EFCC, Mohammed Abubakar in a counter-affidavit prayed the court to reject the bail application.
Maina had in his application, said that he needed time to enable him adequately attend to his deteriorating health condition.
He assured the court that he has “reasonable and responsible sureties”, willing to stand for him if granted bail.
This post was written by Obiajulu Joel Nwolu.
The views expressed here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect our views and opinions.