Ex-pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina, has slumped in court in a manner familiar to most Nigerians.
Maina, who was the former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, collapsed while in court today, December 10, before trial Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Maina is not the only Nigerian ‘big man’ that has slumped when facing charges levelled against him. He is following the lead of others.
Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, once fainted before the same Justice Abang during his trial. He has since been convicted.
Managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Professor Keme Pondei, also slumped when lawmakers were grilling him over expenditure carried out by the NDDC under his watch.
Former Senator representing Kogi West in the senate, Dino Melaye, had earlier dodged police invitation for eight days to answer questions why he allegedly escaped from police custody. But on the day he appeared at SARS office in Lokoja, he slumped before interrogation could even commence. He was immediately taken to hospital.
Maina, who is facing money laundering charges, and who jumped bail until he was arrested by the Interpol in Niger Republic, also slumped before his case could fully take off.
His lawyer, Anayo Adibe, was briefing the court that he would be unable to move his client’s case because he had not had the time to prepare owing to the fact that he was not availed with records of proceedings of the court in the matter. Maina’s first lawyer had quit, Adibe came as replacement. It was at this stage Maina slumped beside the dock where the court permitted him to sit. Some lawyers and officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service quickly rushed to his aid, a development that forced the trial Justice Abang to suspend sitting.
