Corruption Trial: Maina Collapses In Court

The former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task
Team, Mr Abdulrasheed Maina on Thursday collapsed in
court.

The Federal Government is prosecuting Mr Maina on a 12-count
charge of fraud and money laundering before a Federal High Court
sitting in Abuja.

Mr Maina was recently extradited from the Niger Republic after
he jumped bail and escaped the country.

The former pension boss collapsed when his counsel, Anayo Adibe
was addressing the court on his no-case submission before Justice
Okon Abang.

Before Maina’s collapse, his counsel was praying the court for
an adjournment to enable him to get records of court
proceedings.

The proceedings would help him prepare for the no-case
submission he intends to file on behalf of his client, Adibe
said.

But after Maina collapsed, the court rose abruptly to enable
officials of the Correctional Service and relations of the former
pension boss to attend to him.

The matter had been adjourned on Wednesday to today for the
defendant to argue his no-case submission and for the prosecution
to respond to the same orally.

Maina’s ill-health has been a major reason for his prolonged
trial. In November 2019, his trial was stalled after a medical
expert testified to his inability to appear before the court due to
health reasons.