Court adjusts Maina’s bail conditions

The bail conditions granted to former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina was on Monday June 29, adjusted by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Recall that the former pension chairman was granted bail of N1 billion by Justice Okon Abang on November 25, 2019. He was also directed to produce two sureties who must be serving senators who are not standing any criminal trial in any court in the country.

Maina’s counsel, Joe Gadzama who informed the court that Senator Ali Ndume has agreed to stand as a surety for his client, noted that the condition that requires the surety having a certificate of occupancy of a landed property in Abuja has not been met. He urged the court to accept a “certified irrevocable power of attorney” issued to Ndume in the name of one Lawal Ahmed, the previous owner of the land.

Ruling on the case on Monday, Justice Abang said since the defendant has complied with the main condition of producing a surety, the court would accept the irrevocable power of attorney to replace the certificate of occupancy. He also refused to vary the condition that requires the surety to attend trial with the defendant and sign a register of attendance on every date fixed for trial.

The federal high court judge added that since Ndume already deposed to an affidavit dated May 5, stating that he would abide by the conditions, no other deponent can come before the court claiming that the surety cannot fulfill the condition of making appearances in court.

It was further learnt that Laila Maina, wife of the defendant had deposed to an affidavit stating that the surety said he would not be able to attend trial with the accused. Abang ruled that the affidavits “amounts to documentary hearsay and cannot be used to set aside facts deposed to by the surety.”

Maina was urged not to jump bail by Abang who stated that the surety has sacrificed a lot. The case was subsequently adjourned to July 2 for continuation.