By Williams Anuku, Abuja
The embattled former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, has just collapsed in court during his trial on Thursday.
The EFCC is prosecuting Maina on behalf of the Federal Government on a 12-count criminal charge.
Maina who is being tried by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja, collapsed when his counsel, Anayo Adibe was making submissions before Justice Abang.
He was appearing in court for the second time since Thursday, December 3, when he was extradited to Nigeria from Niamey, Niger Republic.
On Wednesday Maina told the court that he had no case to answer shortly after the EFCC, through its counsel, Farouk Abdullah, closed its case with the ninth prosecution witness.
Anayo Adibe, Maina’s new counsel, told Okon Abang, the judge, that he would file a formal application to argue his client’s no-case submission.
However, at Thursday’s sitting, Adibe said he would not be able to proceed with the application as he was yet to get the record of proceedings. Before he could make further submissions, his client (Maina) slumped.
This stirred an uproar in the court as prison warders and some lawyers rushed to resuscitate him. Owing to the development, the judge was forced to suspend the proceedings.
Maina was trailed and arrested in Niamey, Niger Republic having been declared wanted by a court of competent jurisdiction over a pending criminal trial against him.
Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba made the disclosure on Thursday in a statement made available to the media.
Recall that Abdulrashid Maina was arrested on 30th November 2020 through the collaborative efforts of the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL NCB, Abuja and their Nigerien counterpart.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Adamu, NPM, has applauded the trans-national/inter-agency collaborations that led to the successful arrest and extradition of the wanted fugitive, assuring that necessary legal actions will follow immediately.
Recall also that the trial judge, noticing that Maina had jumped bail, ordered the detention of Senator Ali Ndume in kuje correctional Centre for standing as surety to Maina.
Details later….
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