Just like his father, Faisal Maina, son of ex-pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina, has jumped bail en route to the United States of America.
This above was the submission of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Federal High Court today while proceeding was on. Mr Maina, who is facing money laundering charges just like his father, stopped attending trial late November last year. Days later his dad was extradited back to the country from Niger Republic where he was said to be on the run also.
At the resumed trial Thursday, the lawyer to the anti-graft agency, Mohammed Abubakar told the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, that from the information at the disposal of the commission, Faisal Maina sneaked to the USA through the Republic of Niger despite his Nigerian and American passports still with the registry of the court.
“We have a bench warrant of the court for the arrest of the defendant and his apprehension before the court,” Mr Abubakar said, “We have been making serious efforts to execute the bench warrant but it has met challenges. The defendant has absconded to the USA.
Anayo Adibe, lawyer to the defendant, however disputed the claim of the prosecution as he insists that his client was arrested by the Nigeria Police Force in Sokoto. He urged the court to open an inquiry as to the true whereabouts of his client.
“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,” Mr Adibe said, adding that: “We are afraid for his life. We urge the court to cause an inquiry into the whereabouts of the defendant.
For failing to produce the defendant, the judge ordered that the N60million property, his surety Sani Dan-Galadima, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kaura-Namoda Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, presented as bail bond be forfeited.
