Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja has revoked the bail granted Faisal Maina, the son of a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.
In continuation of his trial on money laundering charges on Tuesday, the presiding judge also ordered Maina’s arrest for jumping bail. Justice Abang ruled that his trial would proceed in absentia pending the time the DSS and the Nigeria Police Force arrest and produce him in court.
The judge also summoned his surety, a member of the House of Representatives, Sani Umar Dangaladima to appear in court to show cause why he should not forfeit the N60m bail bond which he signed for Faisal.
The EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Mohammed Abubakar, said both the defendant and his surety had not attended court since June 24, 2020. Abubakar, therefore, applied the revocation of his bail and his arrest citing section 184 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act.
The prosecution also applied for the court to order his trial in absentia as provided by 352(4) of ACJA. In his judgment, the presiding judge granted the prayers and adjourned till Wednesday.
The order for Faisal’s arrest came barely six days after the court ordered a similar order against his father. Both defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on N2bn money laundering charges.
