Operatives of intelligence service in collaboration with Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency yesterday arrested former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina in a town in Niger Republic.
Maina’s arrest comes as a relief to the senator representing Borno South, Mr. Ali Ndume who was remanded on Monday, November 23 at Kuje Correctional Centre for his inability to produce Maina who he stood surety for.
According to PRNigeria, a top intelligence officer said the arrest was made possible due to an existing mutual relationship and security agreement between the two neighbouring countries.
Maina, who has jumped bail, is facing a 12-count money laundering charge levelled against him and a firm by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFCC alleged that Maina, as chairman of the PRTT, used the account of the firm for money laundering to the tune of about N2 billion, part of which he used to acquire landed properties in Abuja.
However, he has not been attending trial since the September 29, 2020 proceedings, a development that prompted Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court to order the remand of Ndume who stood as surety to the accused.
However, Justice Abang had last Friday granted Ndume bail based what he described as Ndume’s “record of good behaviour before the court.”
The bail was granted pending the hearing and determination of Ndume’s appeal filed at the Court of Appeal to challenge the November 23 order that sent him to jail for his inability to produce Maina.
