Maina's Absence Delays Trial as Judge Considers Bail Revocation

Abdulrasheed Maina, the ex-chairman of the now-defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), once again did not attend his scheduled court appearance at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court located in Asokoro, Abuja, on Thursday. This repeated absence has disrupted a trial-within-trial set to assess the admissibility of his statements made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Judge Abubakar Kutigi reacted strongly to this development, threatening to revoke Maina's bail and admonishing that his court would not be subjected to mockery.

"If your client cannot come to court, I will revoke his bail and let them go and get him," Judge Kutigi admonished the defense lawyer. He added, "It has been over three years since he last appeared in court. I am fed up with this case. Throughout my 35 years in this profession, I have never encountered a situation like this."

The EFCC is prosecuting Maina, who is already a former convict, alongside civil servant Ann Igwe Olachi, on nine counts involving the receipt of stolen funds amounting to N738 million. When the defendants were arraigned in 2019, they both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The courtroom proceedings faced further complications when Maina's new lead counsel, A.I. Lemu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), admitted he was only recently briefed about the case and lacked the necessary documentation, including copies of the charges against his client.

"I am new to this matter. I don’t have the charges or the history of the case. I was instructed via phone to take over representation," Lemu stated, requesting a two-week adjournment to review the matter in detail.

Displaying visible annoyance, Judge Kutigi remarked on what he termed the defense's "antics," suggesting they were intentionally trying to hamper court proceedings. Nevertheless, weighing the importance of fair hearing, he granted the requested two-week extension while issuing a stern warning.

"I will not permit a senior advocate to come here and ridicule this court," he said. "You have two weeks to study the case, and for the trial-within-trial to begin. Should your client fail to appear during that time, I will revoke his bail."

The judge also pointed out the frequent changes in Maina's legal representation as a reason for the case's lack of progress. Lemu pledged to remain committed to the case until its conclusion, stating, "I intend to be the last lawyer representing him in this trial."

Furthermore, the judge reminded the courtroom that Maina had been freed from incarceration on February 25, 2025, after serving a sentence for money laundering but had yet to make a court appearance since his release.

Earlier this month, a previous attorney for Maina, Achibong, had presented a medical referral letter to seek a postponement, even though the document did not substantiate any health issues. At that time, the judge declined to grant the delay, indicating that he had an assurance from the defense to proceed regardless of Maina's presence.

Judge Kutigi expressed his frustration with the delays caused by these tactics, emphasizing his intention to consider revoking Maina's bail to ensure he takes the trial seriously.

During Thursday's hearing, the prosecution made two requests: one sought to dismiss the defense’s challenge to the legitimacy of the statements due to the continued absence of the first defendant, which impeded the sub-trial. The second request was for an order holding Maina responsible for costs incurred by the prosecution for bringing equipment to court to present video evidence of the extrajudicial statements made by both defendants.

In response, defense counsel Lemu filed a motion questioning the court’s authority over the case, arguing that Maina had been previously convicted and served his sentence. The prosecution acknowledged this motion and assured that a reply would be submitted on the next adjourned date.

The case has been postponed until March 9, where the trial-within-trial will commence, alongside discussions of the jurisdictional motion.

Backstory: Maina was sentenced in November 2021 to eight years in prison by Okon Abang, formerly of the Federal High Court in Abuja, for money laundering involving over N2 billion of pension funds. The judge characterized Maina’s treatment of pensioners as deeply concerning.

Three of Maina's siblings testified against him during the trial. His sisters explained how he illicitly acquired their personal information to open bank accounts for his company, which he used to commit fraudulent activities. This company was subsequently shut down by the courts.

The Court of Appeal upheld his conviction and sentence in May 2023, leading to his release on February 25, 2025, for good behavior. Recently, investigations uncovered that Maina allegedly accumulated properties valued at over $1.3 million in Dubai and the U.S. between 2010 and 2013, during the same time he was accused of misappropriating pension fund millions.