A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered that Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) be remanded in Kuje correctional centre.
Justice Okon Abang made the order after Ndume’s failed to produce Abdulrasheed Maina, who is standing trial before the court on money laundering charge and for whom Ndume stood surety.
Maina is a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team.
Justice Abang had at the last sitting of the case on October 19 2020 given Ndume 21 days to produce Maina in court, after the later failed to appear for the trial.
Justice Abang held on Monday that having failed to produce the Maina, who is believed to have jumped bail and having failed to show cause why he should not forfeit his bail bond, ordered that Ndume should only be released if he meets either of three conditions.
The first condition is for Ndume to N500m bail bond into the Federation Account of the Federal Government and present evident of such payment in court, while the second is for the FG to sell the property situated in Asokoro, Abuja which Ndume pledge as security for the bond and present evidence of sale and payment of the N500m realised into the Federation Account or he (Ndume).
The third is for him to produce Maina, who is believed to have now jumped bail, in court.
Ndume was immediately led away from the courtroom shortly after the judge’s pronouncement.
At the court sitting on the matter on October 19, 2020, Ndume had expressed frustration over his inability to produce Maina, who hails from Borno South senatorial district, which he represents.
Ndume, had declared that he was helpless because he was unable to locate Maina, who claimed to be ill and on admission in a medical facility in Abuja.
Maina suddenly stopped attending court since September 29 this year, with his lawyer, Francis Oronsaye, claiming his client was ill.
“I had reported to the DG SSS, the AIG of Police Investigation. I even wrote to the Police Commissioner and I also reported the case to DPO of Jabi where the defendant resides. But my lord, even if I see Maina today, I can’t force him to come to court. I am appealing to you to issue a warrant on him.”
When the judge told him that issuing a warrant of arrest would mean Ndume would first be remanded going by the law, the Senator said: “I don’t mind my lord. My concern is to have him in court so that I can continue my life.”
Ndume gave details of how he was prevailed upon by Maina’s relatives and political friends before he agreed to stand surety.
“As a senator serving him (Maina), his family, wife, mother and uncle appealed to me to stand as a surety. I went to prison to confirm for myself whether he was actually sick and the prison officers told me that he was actually sick and appealed to me to be his surety so that he could have access to medical attention.
“Orji Kalu (ex-governor of Abia State), when he was in prison then, Joshua Dariye (ex-Plateau State governor) and former Governor of Taraba, Rev. Jolly Nyame, all appealed to me in the prison to assist him,” he added.
