₦738.6m Fraud Case: Judge Explodes, Loses Patience With Maina

A former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, on Thursday received a stern warning from the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Asokoro over persistent delays in his ongoing trial, with the court threatening to revoke his bail if the situation persists.

According to Ireporter Online, the warning was issued by Justice Abubakar Kutigi after the defence applied for another adjournment, citing a hospital referral letter that failed to disclose any specific medical condition affecting the defendant.

Justice Kutigi expressed frustration over the prolonged nature of the proceedings, noting that the case had suffered repeated setbacks for nearly four years due to what he described as the defendant’s various tactics to stall the trial. The judge observed that despite being afforded multiple opportunities to respond to the allegations levelled against him, Maina had largely failed to actively participate in his defence.

The court disclosed that assurances had been obtained from Maina’s legal team that the trial would proceed with or without the defendant’s physical presence, effectively declining the request for adjournment.

Following the ruling, prosecuting counsel, Francis Usani, called the 14th prosecution witness, Gogi Mohammed, to testify. The witness told the court that Maina allegedly exploited officials of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to divert public funds through fictitious contracts, unlawful allowances and a purported biometric enrolment exercise for pensioners.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission investigator further revealed that several assets linked to Maina were traced to one of his relatives, Maimuna Usman, in Kaduna. He stated that a search of her residence led to the discovery of documents relating to more than 30 properties, mostly located in Abuja and Kaduna, which were allegedly transferred to her by Maina.

According to the witness, some of the properties were purchased outright with cash, including a house in Jabi, Abuja, acquired for $2 million, and another in Life Camp, Abuja, bought for $1.7 million. He added that a property on Katoru Road in Kaduna was purchased for ₦100 million.

The EFCC has since filed an application before the court seeking the forfeiture of the properties, as the trial continues in the absence of the defendant in the long-running ₦738.6 million fraud case.