4th February, 2021
By Taiye Agbaje/Abuja
Fugitive Faisal Maina, son of Abdulrasheed Maina, has fled to the United States of America (USA), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said today.
The EFCC’s lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar told Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Abubakar that Faisal sneaked to the USA through the Republic of Niger.
Earlier Justice Abang, in a committal proceeding ruling, ordered Faisal’s surety, Sani Dan-Galadima to forfeit a property used as a bail bond.
Dan-Galadima, is a member of the House of Representatives, from Kaura-Namoda Federal Constituency of Zamfara.
Faisal was granted a N60 million bail with a surety in the like sum, who must be a serving member of the House of Representatives.
He and the father are facing several cases of money laundering and theft of pension fund.
Abdulrasheed Maina was Chairman of the defunct Presidential Pension Reformed Task Team (PPRTT).
Faisal, is facing a three-count money laundering charge.
One of the counts for which Faizal is being prosecuted reads: “That you Faisal Abdulrasheed Maina, (alias Alh Faisal Abdullahi Farms), between October 2013 and June 2019, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, controlled an aggregate sum of N58, 111,585.00 only, paid through the United Bank for Africa (UBA) account of Alh. Faisal Abdullahi Farms, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said funds formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: corruption of one Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, who is facing a separate charge and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as (amended) and punishable under Section15(3) and (4) of the same Act.”
The court on 26 November 2019, admitted Faisal to bail in the sum of N60 million with a surety in like sum who must be a member of the House of Representatives.
Dan-Galadima deposed to an affidavit of means, on 11 December, 2019, to always come to court at every adjourned date and produce Faisal during trial.
Faisal earlier jumped bail and stopped coming to court, a development that forced Justice Abang to revoke the bail granted him and ordered his arrest on November 24, 2020, even as his trial continued in absentia.
Faisal was said to have been arrested on 9 December 9, 2020. But up till now, he has not been seen.
The case has been adjourned till 31 March 2021 for continuation of trial.