Maina’s Son, Faisal Re-arrested By Security Operatives After Jumping Bail
Faisal, son of the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who was declared wanted by the Federal High Court in Abuja, has been arrested.
Faisal was declared wanted by the Federal High Court in Abuja after he jumped bail since June 24.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, confirmed to the court on Thursday that the 21-year-old Faisal, who jumped bail since June 24, was apprehended by security operatives on Wednesday night.
Faisal is facing a three-count money laundering charge the anti-graft agency preferred against him.
Trial Justice Okon Abang had in a ruling on November 24, revoked his bail, even as he issued bench warrant for security agencies to arrest him wherever he is found.
Before he was released on bail, the defendant, was initially remanded in police custody after the prosecution notified the court that he was being investigated on allegation bordering on his alleged possession of illegal firearm.
Faisal had reportedly pulled a gun to challenge operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS that arrested his father at a hotel in Abuja on September 30.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, counsel to the surety, Mr. M. E. Sheriff, urged the court to suspend the hearing of the forfeiture case against his client given the arrest of the Defendant.
He said: “My lord, I was reliably informed that the defendant had been arrested. He was arrested last night, and he is in custody”.
However, EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Farouk Abdullah, told the court that the Defendant is not in their custody yet.
“We got information unofficially that he has been arrested”, the Prosecution counsel added.
In his ruling, Justice Abang dismissed the adjournment request and ordered the surety to move the application he filed to show cause why he should not forfeit the bail bond to FG.
It will be recalled that his father, Maina, who is facing a separate 12-count money laundering charge, also jumped bail and was later arrested in Niger Republic by the Interpol.
