a property belonging to Sani Dan-Galadima, a member of the House of
Representatives, representing Kaura-Namoda Federal Constituency of
Zamfara, who stood surety to Faisal Maina.The property was used as bail bond for Faisal, son of Abdulrasheed
Maina, former Chairman, defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT) who is
being prosecuted on money laundering charges by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The forfeiture followed the disappearance of Faisal, for the second
time, in the course of his prosecution.
At the resumed hearing of the case, prosecution counsel, Mohammed
Abubakar, told the court that the defendant, from information at his
disposal, had fled to the United States of America, USA, through the
Republic of Niger.
The development made the Court to enter into a committal proceeding and
ordered the forfeiture of property to the government.
It would be recalled that the court had on November 26, 2019, admitted
Faisal to bail in the sum of N60 million with a surety in like sum who
must be a member of the House of Representatives. Dan-Galadima had
deposed to an affidavit of means, on 11 December, 2019, to always come
to court at every adjourned date and produce Faisal during trial.
Faisal, is facing a separate three-count money laundering charge. He had
earlier jumped bail and stopped coming to court, a development that
forced Justice Abang to revoke the bail granted him and ordered his
arrest on November 24, 2020, even as his trial continued in absentia.
Faisal was arrested on Wednesday night, December 9, 2020.
Consequently, the surety’s lawyer, Mr. M. E. Sheriff urged the court to
suspend the hearing of the forfeiture proceedings earlier entered on
Thursday, December 10, 2020.
One of the charges for which Faizal is being prosecuted reads: “That you
Faisal Abdulrasheed Maina, (alias Alh Faisal Abdullahi Farms), between
October 2013 and June 2019, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable
Court, controlled an aggregate sum of N58, 111,585.00 (Fifty-eight
Million, One Hundred and Eleven Thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty-five
Naira) only, paid through the United Bank for Africa (UBA) account of
Alh. Faisal Abdullahi Farms, when you reasonably ought to have known
that the said funds formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity to
wit: corruption of one Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, who is facing a
separate charge and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section
15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as (amended) and
punishable under Section15(3) and (4) of the same Act.”
The case has been adjourned to March 31, 2021 for continuation of trial.