N2bn Money Laundering Charges: Court Orders Maina’s Arrest, His Trial In Absentia - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Editor 01
November 18, 2020
Justice Okon Abang made the order in Wednesday’s ruling in which he also revoked the bail earlier granted the fleeing defendant.
He ordered all security agencies in the country to arrest Maina wherever he may be found and produce him in court without delay.
The judge also ordered that the defendant’s trial would proceed in his absence pending when the defendant would be produced in court.
He made the orders following the applications by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s prosecuting counsel, Mohammed Abubakar, who cited sections 184 and 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, to back his prayers that the absence of Maina from the proceedings of September 29, 30, October 2, and 19, 2020 as well as Wednesday without any reasonable excuse was enough reasons to make the orders.
Justice Okon Abang said Maina cannot hold the court at ransom, and fixed November 23 for Maina’a surety, Senator Ali Ndume, to appear in court to show cause why he should not be remanded in prison and forfeit his N500m bail bond pending when he would be able to produce the defendant.