Just In: Lawyer dumps Abdulrasheed Maina, withdraws from case

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted leave to Mr. Adeola Adedipe representing Common Inputs Ltd. to withdraw from the money laundering case brought against the company by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

At the resumed trial in Abuja on Thursday, Justice Okon Abang in a bench ruling granted the lawyer’s application to withdraw from the case on the ground that he is yet to be paid for his services and is unable to locate Mr. Maina who engaged him to represent the company listed as the second defendant in the case.

Senator Ali Ndume, who stood as surety for Mr. Maina was remanded in prison by a court before he was granted bail on November 27.

The police yesterday said the former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, who was arrested in Niger Republic on Monday, would soon be extradited.

Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, said they were perfecting extradition processes to enable him face trial in pending criminal proceedings against him.

Mba said Maina, who was declared wanted by a court, was arrested on the night of Monday, November 30, 2020, through the collaborative efforts of the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL NCB, Abuja and their Nigerien counterpart.

The police spokesman said Maina is currently in a detention facility in Niger Republic awaiting the completion of the extradition processes.

“The Force assures the citizens that there shall be no hiding place for any suspect, no matter how highly placed,” he said.

“Following the arrest of former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrashid Abdullahi Maina in Niamey, Niger Republic, the NPF is perfecting extradition processes of the fugitive to Nigeria to enable him face trial in pending criminal proceedings against him,” one of the tweets read.