By Fola James
A federal high court in Abuja has granted Senator Ali Ndume bail. The senator representing Borno North was last week remanded in Kuje prison after he failed to present in cour,t Abdulrasheed Maina, a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team who stood surety for.
Maina is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFFC but has since jumped bail and all effort to make him appear in court, to stand trial has remained futile.
Justice Okon Abang granted Ndume bail after hearing his application on the issue. He, however, directed the lawmaker to deposit his international passport with the court.
On Monday, a federal high court ordered Ndume to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Center, following his inability to produce Maina, whom he stood surety for.
Maina is answering to a 12-count money laundering charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and a firm, Common Input Properties & Investment Limited.
EFCC accused former pension boss of laundering funds to the tune of about N2billion, part of which he used to acquire landed properties in Abuja.
Maina spent over seven months on remand at the Kuje Correctional Center before the court released him on bail on July 24, after Senator Ndume agreed to stand surety for him. Â He had since September 29, refused to appear before the court for continuation of his trial.
