By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, in the National Assembly, has been ordered to stay at Kuje at Kuje Correctional Centre for failing to produce the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina to the court.
A Federal High Court gave the order on Monday November 23, 2020 against the senator, who stood as surety for Maina’s bail.
Maina is standing trial on alleged money laundering charges.
Recall that Maina had repeatedly failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial.
In a bench ruling delivered by Justice Okon Abang, the court ordered Ndume’s remand pending the fulfillment of his bail bond, which is a forfeiture of N500 million to the federal government of Nigeria.
The court also empowered the federal government to sell Senator Ndume’s property at Asokoro to recover the N500 million bond.
Besides, Justice Abang disclosed that Ndume would be released from Kuje once he pays the N500 million or if the prosecutor was able to dispose of the property and payment made to the federal government.
Ndume’s lawyer, Marcel Oru, vowed to appeal the court’s ruling. Maina’s trial-in-absentia was adjourned to November 24.