Alleged Pension Scam: Maina’s Trial Stalled Over Screening Of Witness

Proceedings in the trial of former Chairman of Pension Reform
Task Force, Abdul-Rasheed Maina was on Tuesday stalled following
the inability of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) to use screening shield for its second witness.

The EFCC had told the court that the screening of the witness
was necessary in the interest of Justice.

Prosecution counsel, Halima predicated the request on section
232(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA),
2015.

The application was made shortly after the first prosecution
witness, Mairo Abdullahi Bashir had completed her testimony.

The EFCC arraigned Maina on a 12-count charge of fraud and money
laundering.

However, Justice Abang said it would be wrong to ask counsel and
other people in the courtroom to go out in order to set up the
screening shield.

That means you are calling for an adjournment because I cannot
ask the learned counsel to leave the court,” he said.

The EFCC lawyer, therefore, applied for an adjournment to enable
the anti-graft agency to prepare for the continuation of the
trial.

Counsel to Maina, Mohammed Monguno, did not oppose the
application, likewise, Adeola Adedipe who is the counsel to the 2nd
defendant (Maina’s company).

Justice Abang, therefore, adjourned the matter till December 11
to allow the second prosecution witness to be screened.

“The Prosecution counsel shall be in court early to make
adequate preparation for the screening and the matter shall be
taken at 12:00noon,” the judge said.

Justice Abang also adjourned the trial of Faisal Maina, son of
Abdulrasheed Maina, to the same day.

He said the adjournment was at the instance of the defense
team.