The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Asokoro, Abuja, on Thursday issued a stern warning to Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, over repeated delays in his long-running trial.
Justice Abubakar Kutigi cautioned that the court may revoke Maina’s bail if what he described as deliberate attempts to frustrate the proceedings persist. Maina is facing charges bordering on the alleged diversion and laundering of about ₦738.6 million in pension funds, brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Proceedings were nearly stalled after Maina’s counsel, Mr Achibong, presented a hospital referral letter and sought an adjournment, claiming that the defendant was unwell and unable to attend court. However, the judge expressed dissatisfaction after reviewing the document, noting that it failed to state any specific medical condition that justified Maina’s absence.
Justice Kutigi criticised the defence for what he described as a lack of seriousness, lamenting that the case had made little progress over the past four years due to what he termed “diverse antics” employed by the defendant to delay the trial.
The judge observed that Maina had not physically appeared in court for about four years, despite several opportunities granted to him to respond to the charges.
“This matter has been stalled completely,” Justice Kutigi said, warning that the court would not hesitate to take drastic steps, including revoking the defendant’s bail, to ensure compliance. He stressed that bail was not meant to be used as a tool to undermine the judicial process.
The court refused the application for adjournment and disclosed that it had obtained assurances from the defence team that the trial would continue going forward, whether or not Maina was present in court.
Following the ruling, prosecution counsel, Francis Usani, called the 14th prosecution witness, Gogi Mohammed, an EFCC investigator, who continued his testimony.
Mohammed told the court that EFCC investigations uncovered extensive abuse of office and manipulation of pension funds during Maina’s tenure. He revealed that officials of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation were allegedly used to siphon funds through fictitious contracts, allowances, and biometric enrolment exercises.
According to the witness, the investigation further showed that Maina allegedly used proxies and relatives to hide proceeds of the suspected crimes. He identified a relative, Maimuna Usman, based in Kaduna, as a custodian of several assets linked to the defendant.
Mohammed testified that EFCC operatives arrested Usman and conducted a search of her residence, where they recovered documents relating to more than 30 properties, including deeds of assignment and certificates of occupancy, mostly located in Abuja and Kaduna State.
He told the court that Usman admitted during interrogation that the documents were handed to her by Maina for safekeeping.
The EFCC investigator further disclosed that some of the properties were allegedly acquired through large cash payments. He cited a property in Jabi, Abuja, said to have been purchased with $2 million in cash, another in Life Camp bought for $1.7 million in cash, and a property along Katoru Road in Kaduna acquired for ₦100 million, also allegedly paid in cash.
According to Mohammed, the pattern of cash transactions formed part of the EFCC’s findings linking the assets to proceeds of unlawful activities, prompting the Commission to initiate forfeiture proceedings.
Justice Kutigi adjourned the case to a later date, warning that the court would no longer tolerate delays aimed at obstructing the trial.
Maina was earlier reported to have been hospitalised, allegedly due to complications from an untreated knee injury.