The Federal High Court in Abuja has on Monday ordered the detention of Senator Ali Ndume due to his failure to produce the erstwhile chairman of the now-defunct Pension Reformed Task Team, Mr Abdulrasheed Maina.
Maina has been alleged to have jumped bail in respect to his ongoing N2bn money laundering trial.
Ndume, a Borno South Senator, had in May, 2020, stood for the embattled former chairman, who is reported to currently be on the run
Justice Okon Abang, in a ruling, ordered that Senator Ndume, who stood surety for the defendant, be remanded in prison pending when Maina is produced, or his (Ndume’s) property in Asokoro, Abuja, worth N500m which was used as a guarantee for the bail bond be sold off and evidence of payment showing the transfer of the sales proceed into the Federation account.
EFCC’s Lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar, had, on Nov. 18, asked the court to make an order for the lawmaker to forfeit the bail bond since Maina, who he stood as surety for, had jumped bail.
Abubakar also asked the court to revoke Maina’s bail and issued a warrant of arrest on him.
Although the court granted the applications by the EFCC on Maina, it gave Ndume an opportunity to appear with his legal representation and adjourned until Nov. 23.