By DAPO FALADE
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, ordered that the fugitive former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, Abulrasheed Maina, be remanded in prison till the end of his trial.
Justice Okon Abang gave the order in response to an application filed by the prosecution counsel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Mohammed Abubakar, to that effect.
The embattled former chairman of the Pension Reform Taskforce Team has been facing trial on alleged N2bn money laundering charges and operation of fictitious bank accounts.
Maina jumped bail and fled to the Republic of Niger from where he was extradited back to Nigeria, on Thursday and he, along with his son, Faisal, were arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja, amid tight security in and around the court premises.
Justice Abang, ruling on the EFCC application, declared: “The defendant is already on bench warrant having jumped bail. So, he shall be remanded in correctional centre pending the conclusion of the trial.”
Adaji Abel, the new counsel who took over Maina’s defence, appealed for adjournment to enable him to prepare adequately for the case and the judge, acceding to the request, adjourned till December 8, 2020.
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