Operatives of intelligence services in collaboration with men of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, on Monday, reportedly arrested Abdulrasheed Maina, in a town in Niger Republic.
The Nigerian government had days ago, sought the help of the United States and Niger Republic, in tracking the whereabouts of Maina.
Daily Nigeria quotes PR Nigeria as saying that a top intelligence officer revealed that the arrest was made possible due to an existing mutual relationship and security agreement between the two neighbouring countries.
Maina, a former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, (PRTT), is facing 12-count of money laundering charge levelled against him and a firm by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency alleged that Maina, as chairman of the defunct PRTT, used the account of the firm for money laundering to the tune of about N2 billion, part of which he used to acquire landed properties in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
He, however, has not been attending his trial since September 29, 2020, a development that prompted Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Federal High Court to order senator Ali Ndume’s remand last Monday.
Ndume had stood as surety for Maina.
But the court granted bail to Ndume last Friday.
Justice Abang, in a ruling, said he chose to grant the senator bail based on his record of good behaviour before the court, “notwithstanding that the other grounds of his bail application failed.”
The judge granted bail to the senator, pending the hearing and determination of his appeal filed at the Court of Appeal to challenge the order sending him to jail for his inability to produce Maina.
