A new dimension has been added to the trial of Faisal, son to Abdulrasheed Maina when Thursday, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mohammed Abubakar, told a Federal High Court in Abuja, he has fled to the United States of America (USA).
When the case, which has suffered several adjournments due to Faisal’s failure to appeal in court to stand trial on charges of money laundering, came up on Thursday, EFCC’s counsel told the court that the defendant had jumped bail.
Faisal had since November 24, 2020 failed to appeal in court.
The prosecution counsel, Abubakar told the court that he has information that the defendant has fled to the US.
“We have a bench warrant of the court for the arrest of the defendant and his apprehension before the court,” he said.
”We have been making serious efforts to execute the bench warrant but it has met challenges. The defendant has absconded to the USA.”
Abubakar said the previous information by the prosecution that the defendant was arrested in Sokoto “was a rumour”.
“Despite the fact that the Nigerian and American passports of the defendant are in the custody of this court as part of his bail conditions, the information we have indicates that the defendant was able to sneak out of Nigeria to the Republic of Niger from where he was able to proceed to the USA,” he said
However, Anayo Adibe, Faisal’s counsel, insisted that his client was apprehended and taken into custody by the police in Sokoto.
“The following day, media reports as well as a press release by the police command in Sokoto, confirmed this fact,” he said.
”Since then, they have been scanty with information even when we demanded to see him. It is speculative to state the defendant is in the US.
”The defendant personally called me the day he was taken into custody in Sokoto. Since then, every effort made to reach the defendant has been abortive. His phones are switched off.
”We are afraid for his life. We urge the court to cause an inquiry into the whereabouts of the defendant.”
Meanwhile, Adibe brought an application before the court seeking an order vacating the order of foreclosure made against the defendant stopping him from cross-examining the prosecution witnesses as well as opening his own defence.
Citing section 36 of the constitution, the counsel urged the court “in the interest of justice, to grant the application.”
Opposing the application, the prosecution said the defendant forfeited his right to fair hearing when he jumped bail.
He prayed the court to dismiss the application.
However, Justice Okon Abang, adjourned the matter to March 31 for ruling on the application.
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