A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria, has ordered the remand of a former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team Abdulrasheed Maina at the Kuje Correctional centre.
Mr Maina, who was brought to court amidst tight security was extradited from Niamey, Niger Republic on Thursday.
Justice Okon Abang in a ruling held that the defendant was still presumed innocent until being proven otherwise. He added that he was still entitled to his constitutional rights pending the determination of the case.
Meanwhile, Mr Maina’s lawyer, Abel Adaji applied for a short adjournment to enable him to be properly briefed adding that he was just being briefed about the matter. The is sequel to the withdrawal of his former counsel handling the case.
The prosecution counsel, Mr Mohammed Abubakar in his submission opposed the application on the ground Mr Maina’s bail has been revoked by the court
The trial judge in his ruling ordered Mr Abdulrasheed Maina to be remanded at the correctional centre and adjourned the matter to December 8, 2020, for a continuation of the trial.
It would be recalled that Mr Abdulrasheed Maina is being prosecuted by the Nigerian government on a 12 count charge of alleged money laundering totalling 2 Billion Naira but jumped bail and fled to Niger Republic.
He was rearrested by Interpol and extradited back to Nigeria to face trial.
Zainab Sa’id
