A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has commenced the trial of a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, in his absence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Maina for alleged money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.
He last attended a court hearing on July 2, 2020, during the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness by his legal team.
However, Maina had failed to attend subsequent sittings since September 29, 2020.
On November 18, 2020, the Presiding Judge, Justice Okon Abang, adjudged him to have jumped bail.
In his ruling, he revoked the bail earlier granted him, ordered his arrest, and directed that his trial would proceed in his absence.
On Monday, the judge ordered the remand of Senator Ali Ndume, who stood as Maina’s bail surety.
The judge ordered that Ndume should remain in prison until he was able to produce the fleeing defendant in court or pay the N500m bail bond to the Federal Government.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Maina was again absent.
No lawyer was also available to represent him or his company charged along with him as his second defendant.
Following the request of the prosecuting counsel, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, the judge closed the right of Maina to continue cross-examining the sixth prosecution witness.
Justice Abang also foreclosed the second defendant’s right to cross-examine the witness.
He went on to admitt an exhibit tendered by the prosecution without any objection.
The judge held that the defendants had the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses and oppose the admissibility of the exhibit tendered but failed to take advantage of it. (Aledeh)
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