Senator Ali Ndume, the surety of Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairperson of the Pension Reform Taskforce Team (PRTT) facing money laundering trial has withdrawn from the case.
Mr Maina is facing 12-count charge bordering on money laundering instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Borno lawmaker stood as his surety when he was granted bail by the Okon Abang federal high court in Abuja. But his refusal to appear in court severally during his trial prompted the court to revoke the bail.
The inability of his surety to produce him in court led to his incarceration although the lawmaker was later granted bail on compassionate ground. The ex-pension boss was later apprehended in Niger Republic and extradited back to Nigeria yesterday.
In an interview with journalists in Abuja today, Ndume commended the police under Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and other security personnel that were involved in the arrest and extradition.
The lawmaker said he has immediately advised his legal representatives to begin the process of his withdrawal as surety because the defendant has proven to be untrustworthy.
“I commend the Nigeria Police Force for executing the bench warrant issued on Maina by the Federal High Court in Abuja,” Ndume said.
“This has shown that the NPF is not a write-off.
“They are professionals under the able leadership of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
“With the successful arrest, extradition and subsequent remand of Maina at the Kuje Correctional Centre, I will proceed to direct my legal team to begin the process of withdrawing my suretiship for Maina with immediate effect because his action has shown that he is not trustworthy,” he added.
Meanwhile, Justice Abang today ordered Maina be remanded in prison pending the conclusion of his trial.
