A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Asokoro, Abuja, has threatened to revoke the bail of former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, over persistent delays in his trial.
Justice Abubakar Kutigi issued the warning on Thursday after the defence sought another adjournment, relying on a hospital referral letter that failed to indicate any medical condition preventing Maina from attending court.
The judge expressed displeasure at what he described as repeated tactics to stall the proceedings, noting that the case had dragged on for nearly four years due to the defendant’s conduct.
Justice Kutigi stressed that Maina had been given several opportunities to defend himself against the N738.6 million fraud charges but had largely avoided active participation in the trial.
He disclosed that he had extracted an undertaking from the defence team that the trial would continue with or without Maina’s presence, thereby rejecting the adjournment request.
Following the ruling, prosecution counsel, Francis Usani, called the 14th prosecution witness, Gogi Mohammed, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mohammed told the court that Maina allegedly used officials in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF) to divert public funds through fictitious contracts, allowances, and a biometric enrolment exercise for pensioners.
According to the witness, investigations traced several assets allegedly belonging to Maina to his relative, Maimuna Usman, in Kaduna.
He said a search of her residence revealed documents for more than 30 properties, mostly located in Abuja and Kaduna, which were allegedly handed to her by Maina.
Some of the properties, including one in Jabi, Abuja, and another in Life Camp, Abuja, were reportedly bought with cash sums of $2 million and $1.7 million, respectively, while a property on Katoru Road, Kaduna, was allegedly purchased for N100 million.
The EFCC, Mohammed added, has filed applications seeking the forfeiture of the properties.
Justice Kutigi maintained that the trial would continue despite Maina’s absence, warning that further delays could lead to the revocation of his bail.
