Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement on Monday that Maina was declared wanted over his alleged role in the N2bn pension scam.
According to Uwujaren, the commission had charged Maina, alongside Steve Oronsaye(former Head of Service of the Federation); Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton of Global Services Limited before a Federal High Court on 24 counts bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretences.
He said while Oronsaye and others, who were in court pleaded not guilty to the charges, the PRTT’s former Chairman was not available in court.
Uwujaren said Maina’s counsel, Esther Uzoma, had appeared in court to tell the judge that her client was not at large when the bail applications were heard on July 21, 2015.
He explained further that the plea of the EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacob’s (SAN), to the court to prevail on Maina’s lawyer to produce him, which was granted by the court had not been honoured by the client.
The EFCC spokesman added,
“However, on July 21, when the court heard the bail applications of the accused persons, Maina, through his counsel, Esther Uzoma, told the court that he was not at large, claiming that the EFCC had never invited him.“The court granted Jacobs’ prayers, yet Maina continued to shun court proceedings, leaving the commission with no option than to declare him wanted.
“Consequently, EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, pleaded with the court to prevail on the accused’s counsel to produce Maina in court as the commission had no clues as to his whereabouts.
“Indeed, since the commission filed charges against Maina, more damning evidence have emerged on how the ebullient former Pension Task Team boss siphoned pension funds using secret accounts in a new generation bank in Abuja.
“Two officers of the bank were quizzed two weeks ago.”
Credit: Punch
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