Maina will jump bail if granted, says EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has claimed that the former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, is not a responsible citizen but a fugitive of law.

The agency said he allegedly stole about N3billion pensioners’ fund in what it described as an elaborate grand scam.

EFCC said Maina is a citizen of the United States and a naturalised resident of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with an expired Nigerian passport, but that he has always sneaked into Nigeria at night through the borders with Niger in Sokoto and Katsina.

The EFCC stated this in a counter affidavit it filed against the bail application by Maina, who is being tried before a Federal High Court in Abuja on money laundering related charges.

It prayed the court to reject Maina’s bail request because it took a lot of efforts for security agents to arrest him after fleeing for about seven years.

The EFCC said is granted bail, Maina, with the huge funds at his disposal, would compromise its witnesses, some of whom are his blood relations and family members.

The judge will tomorrow rule on whether to admit Maina to bail.

The ex-pension boss was arraigned on October 25 on a 12-count charge of money laundering.

– The Nation