By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General Desk)
The Federal High Court in Abuja has said it will hear Senator Ali Ndume’s bail application filed to secure his release from the Kuje Correctional Center, Thursday.
The court had remanded Ndume on Monday following his failure to produce the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who’s currently on the run.
Maina is faced with a 12-count money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). A firm, Common Input Properties & Investment Limited was also involved in the matter.
EFCC alleged that Maina used account of the firm and laundered funds to the tune of about N2 billion, part of which he used to acquire landed properties in Abuja.
The anti-graft agency told the court that the ex-Pension boss used fictitious names to open and operate various bank accounts, as well as recruited his relatives that were bankers to operate fake bank accounts through which illicit funds were channelled.
Justice Okon Abang remanded Ndume in custody for failing to explain the whereabouts of the defendant.
He held that the surety would remain in detention pending when he produced Maina or paid his N500million bail bond into the Federation Account.
The court equally gave EFCC the nod to try the defendant in absentia. At the resumed proceedings in the matter on Wednesday, the trial Judge said his attention was drawn to Ndume’s bail application.
Justice Abang said he had promptly directed the court clerk to fix the application for hearing on Thursday.
Though Ndume’s lawyer was not in court, however, counsel to the EFCC, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, confirmed that he was served with both the bail application and hearing notice.
Already, Ndume has approached the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal to challenge his detention in prison custody.
In the 12 grounds of appeal he lodged through his lawyer, Mr M. E. Oru, the embattled lawmaker insisted that he was denied fair hearing by Justice Abang.
Ndume argued that the court denied him the opportunity to show cause why he should not be punished over Maina’s disappearance.
