A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application by former chairman of the Pension Reform Taskforce Team (PRTT), Abdulateed Maina, for the variation of his bail terms.
Justice Okon Abang on Wednesday ruled that Maina failed to place before the court by material proof of special circumstances and exceptional reasons to warrant the further variation of the bail.
“There is no change of circumstances different from the facts that led to the court’s exercise of discretion on 28 January, 2020 that will enable this court to vary the already varied bail terms and conditions.
“My duty is to decide what is placed me, having heard parties. It is not the duty of the court to direct parties on what to do. The application filed by the defendant lacks merit, it is hereby dismissed,” the judge said.
The judge also held that the bail variation application dictated the terms of the bail to the court when such terms are at the discretion of the court.
Maina was first arraigned in October, 2019 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his son, Faisal on 12-count charges and three-count charges respectively of money laundering and concealment of proceeds of the unlawful act.
The court on November 26, 2019 granted Maina a N1 billion bail and two sureties in like sum.
According to the court, the sureties, who must not be facing any criminal trial, must have landed properties in Asokoro and Maitama, Abuja worth the amount of the bail bond.
But following an application for a bail variation by counsel to Maina, Afam Osigwe Esq, Justice Abang on January 28 reduced the bail bond to the sum of N500m and one senator as surety.
This means Maina will continue to remain in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service until he is able to perfect the bail condition. Another way out for him would be if he appeals the decision of the court and gets a favourable judgment at the Court of Appeal.
The court had earlier dismissed an application by EFCC counsel, M.S. Abubakar seeking to revoke Maina’s bail on allegations of planning to assassinate main witnesses in the trial, officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service and jump bail.
The court said there was no proof to support the allegation adding that there was no police investigation over the allegation.
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