The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Maina on 12-count charge of forgery, money laundering and stealing to the tune of N2billion.
Since his arraignment on Friday, October 25, 2019, Maina has been in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Kuje, Abuja, pending the determination of his bail application.
At the resumed hearing on the bail application today, Maina’s counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, produced a signed written address, in which he stated that the offences which his client was charged are bailable. However, prosecution counsel, M.S Abubakar, in a counter-affidavit argued that Maina should be denied bail, given that the defendant posed serious threat to national security.
However, the court in its ruling, noted that “under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, the 1st defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.” .
.
According to Justice Abang, “No matter how seemingly serious, no matter how seemingly grave, heinous or questionable offences committed by the 1st defendant, the defendant is still entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty as enshrined in the constitution."
He therefore granted bail to Maina in the sum of N1billion and N500 million respectively from two sureties he is to provide. The sureties, the judge stated, must be serving Nigerian senators, who own properties in Asokoro or Maitama, and who shall also sign undertaking that would bind them to be with the defendant in court at all times, adding that where at least one of the sureties was not in court, the bail shall be revoked.
Justice Abang further ruled that Maina must deposit his international passports, which include: America International Passport, Nigeria International Passport and Diplomatic Passports, (if any, either expired or valid).
He adjourned the matter until November 26, 2019.
*He is accused of carting away two billion..
Now one billion is bail?
why not just ask him to pay back the two billion since we all know that in Nigeria taking them to court is as far as it goes........
Stella this is Nigeria
ReplyDeleteThis country is a joke. Someone stole 2 Billion pension funds and you asked him to pay 1b as his bail condition. Some of these Pensioners who were supposed to be paid for their service to the nation are already dead,but this animal will walk free and will never go to prison. This 1 billion bail as far as i am concerned is a plea bargain. He will refund this money and will be asked to go never to see no more. This will be last we are going to hear of this case. Yeye country .
ReplyDeleteThe remaining 1billiin is his chop money, this our government na wa.
ReplyDeletePension schemes is about the biggest fraud that's happening to Nigerians. I feel so pained what pensioners go through.
ReplyDelete