Alleged N2.1bn Pension Fraud: Maina’s Lawyer Give Reasons For His Withdrawal

Counsel representing the former chairman of the defunct Pension
Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, Muhammad Sani Katu
(SAN), has told a Federal High Court in Abuja why he decided to
opt-out of the matter.

According to a court document filed by the Senior lawyer, he
said his mind and that of Maina are at cross purpose over the
matter.

It would be recalled that Katu had orally told the court during
proceedings in the matter on Wednesday that he was quitting from
the case.

The prosecution counsel, Farouk Abdullah, opposed the
application on the ground that Katu did not follow the due process
of the law in his application seeking to withdraw from the
matter.

The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, in a bench ruling agreed
with the prosecution and refused the application for lacking in
merit.

Following the court’s ruling, the defence lawyer filed a formal
application seeking leave to be allowed to withdraw from the matter
immediately after Wednesday’s proceedings.

The application is primarily, asking for the leave of the court
to enable the lead counsel, Muhammad Sani Katu (SAN) to withdraw
his appearance and further representation of the 1st defendant
(Maina), for the sole reason that both the minds of the counsel and
that of the 1st defendant are at cross purpose.

An affidavit filed in support of the application said: “Some
confidential cheats occurred both within and outside the court that
indicates that both the counsel and the 1st defendant are working
on a cross-purpose.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is
prosecuting Maina, alongside his firm, Common Input Property and
Investment Limited, for allegedly laundering the sum of N2.1
billion when he was the chairman of the defunct PPRT.

Counsel representing the former chairman of the defunct Pension
Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, Muhammad Sani Katu
(SAN), has told a Federal High Court in Abuja why he decided to
opt-out of the matter.

According to a court document filed by the Senior lawyer, he
said his mind and that of Maina are at cross purpose over the
matter.

It would be recalled that Katu had orally told the court during
proceedings in the matter on Wednesday that he was quitting from
the case.

The prosecution counsel, Farouk Abdullah, opposed the
application on the ground that Katu did not follow the due process
of the law in his application seeking to withdraw from the
matter.

The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, in a bench ruling agreed
with the prosecution and refused the application for lacking in
merit.

Following the court’s ruling, the defence lawyer filed a formal
application seeking leave to be allowed to withdraw from the matter
immediately after Wednesday’s proceedings.

The application is primarily, asking for the leave of the court
to enable the lead counsel, Muhammad Sani Katu (SAN) to withdraw
his appearance and further representation of the 1st defendant
(Maina), for the sole reason that both the minds of the counsel and
that of the 1st defendant are at cross purpose.

An affidavit filed in support of the application said: “Some
confidential cheats occurred both within and outside the court that
indicates that both the counsel and the 1st defendant are working
on a cross-purpose.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is
prosecuting Maina, alongside his firm, Common Input Property and
Investment Limited, for allegedly laundering the sum of N2.1
billion when he was the chairman of the defunct PPRT.