TheCable

A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Ali Ndume, senator from Borno state, over the non-appearance of Abdulrasheed Maina whom he stood as surety for.

At its sitting on Monday, the court ordered that Ndume be remanded over his inability to produce Maina who is being prosecuted for alleged pension fraud.

Maina, who is the former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), is being prosecuted by the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.

Owing to his persistent absence from trial, Okon Abang, the judge, ordered that Ndume be remanded in Kuje prison until he produces Maina or sells his N500m worth of property in Abuja, which was used as the guarantee for the bail bond.

The judge said he will only be released from prison when he meets either of the two conditions.

The court had revoked Maina’s bail at its last sitting.

The former pension boss, who was granted bail in 2019, was said to have cut contacts with Ndume since he was released on bail.

The senator told the court on October 2 that he did not know the whereabouts of Maina, and he was ready to forfeit his freedom to ensure that the former pension boss is arrested and brought before the court.

“My lord, I am constraint because I cannot take the law into my hand,” he had said.

“I had reported to the DG SSS, the AIG of police investigation. I even wrote to police commissioner and I also reported the case to DPO of Jabi where the defendant resides.

“But my lord, even if I see Maina today, I can’t force him to come to court. I am appealing to you to issue a warrant on him.”