Alleged N2bn Fraud: Ndume Wants Freedom As Maina’s Surety

The senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali
Ndume, on Monday applied to the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja
to discharge him as a surety in the matter against Abdulrasheed
Maina.

Recall that the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform
Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, is being prosecuted by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission on N2bn money laundering charges
before the court.

In court on Monday, Ndume’s lawyer, Marcel Oru, applied formally
for the discharge of Ndume as surety and the release of the title
documents that were deposited in court.

Oru argued that the application was brought pursuant to the fact
that Maina, who earlier jumped bail, had been rearrested and was in
the custody of the prosecution.

Justice Okon Abang raised the issue of whether the court has the
jurisdiction to hear the application since an appeal has been
entered.

Oru argued that ordinarily, the court wouldn’t have jurisdiction
but in the prevailing circumstances, Maina had been rearrested.
Thus, he was of the view that the court could hear the
application.

The lawyer for the EFCC, Mohammed Abubakar, objected, stating
that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the
application.

Abubakar urged the court to strike out the application of the
surety.

The court adjourned to October 4 to rule on the notice of
preliminary objection.

The senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali
Ndume, on Monday applied to the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja
to discharge him as a surety in the matter against Abdulrasheed
Maina.

Recall that the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform
Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, is being prosecuted by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission on N2bn money laundering charges
before the court.

In court on Monday, Ndume’s lawyer, Marcel Oru, applied formally
for the discharge of Ndume as surety and the release of the title
documents that were deposited in court.

Oru argued that the application was brought pursuant to the fact
that Maina, who earlier jumped bail, had been rearrested and was in
the custody of the prosecution.

Justice Okon Abang raised the issue of whether the court has the
jurisdiction to hear the application since an appeal has been
entered.

Oru argued that ordinarily, the court wouldn’t have jurisdiction
but in the prevailing circumstances, Maina had been rearrested.
Thus, he was of the view that the court could hear the
application.

The lawyer for the EFCC, Mohammed Abubakar, objected, stating
that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the
application.

Abubakar urged the court to strike out the application of the
surety.

The court adjourned to October 4 to rule on the notice of
preliminary objection.