Counsel Withdraws Services from Maina’s Son as Court Adjourns Case Till December 8

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja,
on Friday, December 4, 2020 adjourned the trial of Faisal
Abdulrasheed Maina, son of Abdulrashed Maina, former chairman of
Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) till December 8, 2020 after his
counsel, Francis Oransanye, informed the court that he had
withdrawn his legal services to the defendant.

Because of the absence of legal representation for the defence,
prosecution counsel, M.S. Abubakar asked the court to foreclose the
right of the defendant for a defence to the testimonies against
him.

In granting the prayer, the judge stated that he was foreclosing
the defendant’s right in the matter “having been given the same
opportunity to defend same but failed to take advantage of the said
opportunity,” and gave prosecution seven days from today to file
its written address.

It could be recalled that the third prosecution witness in
Faisal’s trial, Rouqayya Ibrahim, a Principal Detective
Superintendent (PDS) with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC had in her testimony on Wednesday, November 25, 2020, revealed
that the defendant made under declaration of assets in his Code of
Conduct Bureau asset declaration form as well as contradictory
statements to the EFCC and the court, concerning the registration
of the company he allegedly used in siphoning funds to the tune of
N58million.

Because Faisal was not in court, and did not send legal
representation in the four consecutive adjournments after his
release on bail November 26, 2019 Justice Abang on November 18,
2020, revoked his bail, issue a bench warrant against him and
ruled that his trial will continue in his absence.

Additionally, the judge ruled that his surety, Hon Sani Umar San
Galadima, of the House of Representatives, representing Kaura
Namoda Federal Constituency of Zamfara State should appear in court
on November 25, 2020 to show cause why he should not forfeit his
N60 million bail bond for his failure to produce the defendant in
court.
 
At today’s sitting, counsel to the surety, M E. Sheriff, in doing
what was stipulated for his client, asked for a short adjournment
to study the prosecution’s counter-affidavit and file appropriate
response, to which the prosecution made no objection as Abubakar
noted that the surety was willing to forfeit his property,
contained in the bail bond, but was only suing for time to dispose
it.

Faisal is being prosecuted by the EFCC, on a three-count charge
of false declaration of assets and money laundering to the tune of
N58 million.

Justice Abang adjourned the matter till December 8 and 11, 2020,
for continuation of proceedings against the surety and adoption of
prosecution’s final written address, respectively.

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja,
on Friday, December 4, 2020 adjourned the trial of Faisal
Abdulrasheed Maina, son of Abdulrashed Maina, former chairman of
Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) till December 8, 2020 after his
counsel, Francis Oransanye, informed the court that he had
withdrawn his legal services to the defendant.

Because of the absence of legal representation for the defence,
prosecution counsel, M.S. Abubakar asked the court to foreclose the
right of the defendant for a defence to the testimonies against
him.

In granting the prayer, the judge stated that he was foreclosing
the defendant’s right in the matter “having been given the same
opportunity to defend same but failed to take advantage of the said
opportunity,” and gave prosecution seven days from today to file
its written address.

It could be recalled that the third prosecution witness in
Faisal’s trial, Rouqayya Ibrahim, a Principal Detective
Superintendent (PDS) with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC had in her testimony on Wednesday, November 25, 2020, revealed
that the defendant made under declaration of assets in his Code of
Conduct Bureau asset declaration form as well as contradictory
statements to the EFCC and the court, concerning the registration
of the company he allegedly used in siphoning funds to the tune of
N58million.

Because Faisal was not in court, and did not send legal
representation in the four consecutive adjournments after his
release on bail November 26, 2019 Justice Abang on November 18,
2020, revoked his bail, issue a bench warrant against him and
ruled that his trial will continue in his absence.

Additionally, the judge ruled that his surety, Hon Sani Umar San
Galadima, of the House of Representatives, representing Kaura
Namoda Federal Constituency of Zamfara State should appear in court
on November 25, 2020 to show cause why he should not forfeit his
N60 million bail bond for his failure to produce the defendant in
court.
 
At today’s sitting, counsel to the surety, M E. Sheriff, in doing
what was stipulated for his client, asked for a short adjournment
to study the prosecution’s counter-affidavit and file appropriate
response, to which the prosecution made no objection as Abubakar
noted that the surety was willing to forfeit his property,
contained in the bail bond, but was only suing for time to dispose
it.

Faisal is being prosecuted by the EFCC, on a three-count charge
of false declaration of assets and money laundering to the tune of
N58 million.

Justice Abang adjourned the matter till December 8 and 11, 2020,
for continuation of proceedings against the surety and adoption of
prosecution’s final written address, respectively.