The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Thursday for the hearing of the bail application filed by Senator Ali Ndume, who has been in detention in prison since Monday over his suretyship for Abdulrasheed Maina, now presumed to have jumped bail.
Maina, a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on charges of money laundering involving N2bn.
Justice Okon Abang on Monday remanded Ndume in prison until he produced Maina or paid the sum of N500m bail bond to the Federation Account. In the alternative, his asset valued at the amount would be sold and the proceeds paid into the Federation Account, the Judge ruled.
He has been on remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre since then.
On November 18, 2020, Justice Abang had revoked the bail granted him, ordered his arrest, and directed that his trial would proceed in absentia.
Ndume, through his lawyer, Marcel Oru, on Tuesday filed an appeal against the remand order at the Court of Appeal, along with an application for the bail of the defendant filed before Justice Abang.
The judge, in the course of the trial in the absence of Maina, on Wednesday, acknowledged the bail application filed by Ndume’s lawyer.
He said the bail application was brought to his attention at about 8.58am on Wednesday, disclosing that he had immediately directed that the matter be fixed for hearing on Thursday.
He also said he had directed that hearing notice for the Thursday’s proceedings be issued and served on the parties.
Meanwhile, Sani Umar Dangaladima, a member of the House of Representatives, has appeared at the same court Wednesday, over the disappearance of Faisal Maina, the son of Abdulrasheed. of the House of Representatives Faisal Maina, who is said to have jumped bail.
Dangaladima had stood surety for Faisal, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on money laundering charges. Faisal, like his father, is also presumed to have jumped bail.
The judge, Justice Okon Abang, who is presiding over the two cases, had revoked the bail granted the father and the son, ordered their arrest, and directed that their trials would proceed in absentia.
Justice Abang on Tuesday ordered Dangaladima, to appear in court on Wednesday to show cause why he should not be made to forfeit the N60m bail bond he signed for the defendant.
He was in court Wednesday to honour the summons.
