The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, has ordered the confine of a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, Abulrasheed Maina, to remain in prison, till the end of his trial.
Justice Okon Abang made the order following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s prosecution counsel, Mr Mohammed Abubakar.
Maina who is being prosecuted by the EFCC on N2bn money laundering charges had jumped bail and fled to the Republic of Niger.
But he was brought forth in court for the first time on Friday following his deportation to Nigeria earlier on Thursday.
The suspect sat in between two EFCC operatives as the trial began.
Justice Abang said, “The defendant is already on bench warrant having jumped bail.
“So he shall be remanded in correctional centre pending the conclusion of the trial.”
A lawyer, Adaji Abel, who freshly took over Maina’s defence on Friday, pleaded to the judge to adjourn the case to enable him to prepare adequately for the case.
The judge agreed to the request and adjourned the case till December 8.
