Daily Trust

Court grants N60m bail to Maina’s son

- By Clement A. Oloyede

AFederal High Court in Abuja has granted bail in the sum of N60million to Faisal, son of Abdurashee­d Maina, a former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team.

The presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, further ruled that Faisal must produce one surety in like sum.

The surety, the judge said, could be from any part of the country but must be a serving House of Representa­tives member, who must not have any criminal charge pending against him/ her in court.

Justice Abang held that, “The surety must be owner of landed property anywhere within the FCT. The Chief

Registrar of this court shall ascertain the validity or otherwise of the Certificat­e of Occupancy.

“The surety shall furnish the court with three months tax clearance certificat­e preceding the date of applicatio­n. The surety shall personally give an undertakin­g to appear with the defendant in court at all adjourned dates pending conclusion of trial. And where the surety fails to appear with the defendant in court without any good and substantia­l reason, the court is at liberty to rescind the bail of the defendant and he shall be remanded in custody.”

The judge also ordered that the defendant shall deposit his American passport and Nigeria Internatio­nal passport with the court pending the determinat­ion of the case.

He also held that the Investigat­ing Police Officer (IPO), through the prosecutio­n, shall ascertain the property and the residence of the surety to be in the FCT.

He adjourned to today continuati­on of trial.

Faisal is facing a three-count charge levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

He was alleged to be operating an account he allegedly used to divert various sums of money, including N58 million.

Daily Trust reports that the same judge, onMonday admitted Faisal’s father, Maina, to bail in the sum of N1billion with two sureties who must be serving senators not standing any criminal trial before any court in the country. for the

 ?? Photo: Felix Onigbinde ?? President Muhammadu Buhari (right) with Netherland­s Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, during the foreign leader’s visit to the Presidenti­al Villa in Abuja yesterday
Photo: Felix Onigbinde President Muhammadu Buhari (right) with Netherland­s Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, during the foreign leader’s visit to the Presidenti­al Villa in Abuja yesterday

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