Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of Mr. Ali Ndume at the Kuje Correctional Centre following his inability to produce the former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, whom he stood surety for.
Maina is facing a 12-count money laundering charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), preferred against him and a firm, Common Input Properties and Investment Limited.
EFCC alleged that he used account of the firm and laundered funds to the tune of about N2 billion, part of which he used to acquire landed properties in Abuja.
Maina spent over seven months on remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre before the court released on bail on July 24, after Ndume agreed to stand surety for him.
He had since September 29, refused to appear before the court for continuation of his trial.
In his ruling, Justice Abang said Ndume who represents Borno South senatorial district had in an affidavit of means he deposed to on May 5, agreed to pay the N500 million bail on Maina’s head should the he (Maina) jump bail.
The court stressed that it had on four separate dates afforded Ndume the opportunity to show cause why he should not be remanded in custody or made to forfeit the bail sum to the federal government, owing to the continued absence of the defendant.
The judge said though Ndume had on November 18, pleaded for an adjournment to enable him to file necessary processes to defend himself, he failed to do so.
Abang said instead of filing processes, Ndume wrote a letter to the deputy chief registrar of the court, requesting for seven documents that included the entire record of proceedings in the matter.
The court held that EFCC’s application for Ndume to be remanded in custody and for him to forfeit the bail bond succeeded.
Consequently, relying on section 179 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the court, ordered Ndume’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the time he will forfeit the N500 million bail sum to the federal government as he agreed to do in his affidavit.
Alternatively, the court directed the government to sell a property situated at Plot158 Cadastral Zone AO2, Asokoro, which belongs to Ndume.
It said the property should be sold for the bail sum, with full payment made into the federation account.
The court said the third alternative was for Ndume to produce Maina in court for continuation of his trial.
Justice Abang ordered that the lawmaker should remain in detention, pending the fulfillment of any of the conditions.
The matter was subsequently adjourned till Tuesday (tomorrow) for Maina’s trial to continue in his absence.
The court had on the last adjourned date issued a bench warrant for security agencies to arrest Maina anywhere he was found.
With Vanguard report
