The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the request of Abdulrasheed Maina’s lawyer, Mr. Ademola Adedipe, to quit the case involving N2bn money laundering suit against the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team.
The development follows Adedipe’s application to quit the case on the grounds that his brief had not been perfected by his client.
He had appeared for the second defendant in the case, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd, a firm said to be owned by Maina,
Justice Okon Abang had on November 25, 2020, turned down the application by the lawyer to quit the case, explaining that the application had yet to arrive the court file from the registry.
He however acknowledged the application on Thursday while issuing an order discharging the lawyer from the case.
Security agencies of Niger Republic in a collaboration with men of anti-corruption agency in Nigeria had on Monday arrested Maina, who jumped bail, in Niger Republic.
Maina, who has been absent for trial since the September 29, 2020 proceedings, is facing a 12-count money laundering charge levelled against him and Common Input Property and Investment Ltd by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The EFCC alleged that Maina, as Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, used the account of the firm for money laundering to the tune of about N2 billion, part of which he used to acquire landed properties in Abuja.
Following Maina’s arrest in Niamey, Niger Republic, the Nigeria Police Force had Tuesday announced that it is perfecting his extradition processes to Nigeria to enable him face trial in pending criminal proceedings against him.
