Maina Secures N1B
Maina Secures N1B Bail In Court in Alleged Money
Laundering Charge
… Maina fit for trial, says Prison doctor
A Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday admitted former Chairman
of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTM), Abdulrasheed Maina
to bail in the sum of N1 billion with two Serving senators as
surety.
Maina is standing trial on 12 count charge bordering on alleged
money laundering to the tune of over N2 billion preferred against
him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Maina since his arraignment has been sick and could hardly
attend his trial.
Delivering ruling in his bail application, the trial judge
Justice Okon Abang held that bail is at the discretion of the court
and accordingly admitted Maina to bail in the sum of N1
billion.
Maina in addition is to provide two sureties, who must be
serving senator with no criminal record or pending charges.
The senators who must show evidence of tax payment in the last
three years, must be owners of landed property in the Asokoro or
Maitama area of Abuja.
The court also ordered Maina to deposit his international
passport including his diplomatic passport of which must be
confirmed by the Nigerian Immigration Service.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Comptroller General of the Nigerian
Correctional Service (Prisons) in charge of Welfare and Medical, on
Monday told Justice Abang that Maina is medically fit to face
trial.
The former pension reform boss after his arraignment on October
25, had claimed that he took ill and was unable to attend his
trial.
His absence in court on November 13 forced the court to adjourn
proceedings with an order on the Deputy Comptroller General of the
Nigerian Correctional Service (Prisons) in charge of Welfare and
Medical to conduct a thorough examination on Maina, in other to
ascertain his health status and report to the court.
At Monday’s trail prosecution lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar,
informed the court that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) on November 20, 2019 received a comprehensive report on
Maina’s medical status from the Nigeria Prison Service.
Reading from the medical report signed by an Assistant
Comptroller General (Medical), Dr. Remi Ojo , the lawyer stated
that Maina, 45 years has slight malaria and high blood
pressure.
The report stated that Maina was suffering from high blood
pressure but it has been brought under control . “Maina vital
organs are working normal. He is fit to stand trial.”
Maina was at the last proceedings brought to court in aid of two
Prison Service officials.
The and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Maina,
along side a firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd,
allegedly linked with him on a 12-count criminal charge, bordering
on fraud, abuse of public office and money laundering of about
about N2 billion.
FG Says Nigeria Prison Service Can Reject Persons Awaiting
Trial, Severe Body Injuries If…
From Kayode Lawal Abuja
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami SAN on Monday told officials of the Nigeria Prison
Services that they have powers to refuse to keep in their custody
persons awaiting trial, if relevant agencies of government failed
to address the issues of such inmates within a period of three
months.
Malami, who made the disclosure while declaring open the first
“National Workshop on the Effective Implementation of the Nigerian
Correctional Service Act”, said the move is aimed at tackling the
issue of overcrowding in the prisons.
Report has it that 70 percent of inmates across correctional
centers in the country are persons awaiting trial with some of them
in detention for more than ten years.
The Correctional Service Act which according to the AGF, is a
fall out of ongoing reform is aimed at decongesting prisons as well
as equipping inmates for a better life after prison.
“We consider the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 20l9 very
critical to the administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria for
quite a number of reasons.
“In the first place, it is our much-awaited legislative wand for
bringing to an end the hydro headed problems associated with
overcrowding and prisons congestions in the Country.
“With this Act in place, we now have the much needed legislative
backbone for the comprehensive implementation of the national
policies and strategies for prisons decongestion in Nigeria and I
cannot but give credit to Mr. President for his demonstrable
commitment towards the speedy decongestion of Nigerian prisons, now
Correctional Centres”.
Among some of the innovations in the new Act, the Minister cited
include section 18(2) which empowers prison officials to reject
inmates suspected to have undergone torture or other inhumane
treatment in the hands of relevant agencies.
“By virtue of section 18 (2) of the Act, Upon the delivery of
the notification under section 18 (I) (d), the State Controller
shall cause to be activated, the procedure for refusal to admit
awaiting trial persons to his custodial centre, where the heads of
the relevant agencies notified fails to take necessary steps to
address the situation within a reasonable time not exceeding three
months.
“A Superintendent shall refuse to admit any person brought in
with severe bodily injury, mentally unstable or underage provided
that the Superintendent shall ensure due documentation of the name,
date and other particulars relating to the person that was refused
admission”,
“Under the new dispensation, the Correctional Service is obliged
to take adequate steps to ensure the prevention of torture,
prevention of inhuman and degrading treatment against inmates and
the prevention of sexual and non sexual violence and bulling of
inmates”, the Minister added.
Malami stated that the workshop is meant to sensitize and
conscientise participating Justice Sector Institutions and other
stakeholders on their roles towards the proper implementation of
the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.
He therefore called on the participants to come up with a road
map that would facilitate implementation of the Act, especially
with regards to Non-Custodial Measures, adding that the country can
only get the best out of the Act when it is duly implemented.