Ali Ndume Gets Bail for Good Behaviour...

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, on grounds of “good behaviour”, admitted Senator Ali Ndume to bail over his suretyship for former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina.

Maina, who is standing trial on a 12-count charge of alleged N2 billion money laundering, was assumed to have jumped bail following his failure to appear in court for his trial on four different adjournments.

It would be recalled that Justice Abang had admitted Maina to bail in the sum of N500 million and a surety in like sum, who must be a serving Senator and must attend every court proceedings relating to the matter.

Ndume had stood surety for Maina in his alleged money laundering trial and was consistent in attending Maina’s trial until sometime in September when Maina stopped appearing in court.

Responding, the court on November 18, revoked Maina’s bail and ordered for his arrest wherever he was found.

The court also on Monday ordered the remand of Ndume at the Kuje Correctional Centre, following his inability to produce Maina in court to continue his trial.

According to the judge, the senator who represents Borno South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, would remain in custody until he pays the bond of N500 million he signed for Maina’s bail to the federal government or when the property he surrendered as guarantee has been disposed of by the government.

However, after four days in custody, Ndume who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army has been admitted to bail.

Justice Abang admitted him to bail with a surety that must show evidence of a landed property in Abuja, while delivering ruling in his bail application filed and argued by his lawyer, Mr. Marcel Oru on Thursday.

The judge in the ruling held that though the applicant had failed to place any material to show that he had redeemed the N500m bond, he had shown good conducts during the duration of trial by attending court regularly.

He explained that the court chose to exercise its discretion in favour of the applicant in granting the bail because of his good conduct.

Justice Abang recalled that since May 5, 2020 when Ndume deposed to the affidavit means to forfeit the N500m bail bond in the event that Maina jumped bail, he had attended all the court sessions.