The Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja, to formally discharge him as a surety in the matter against former pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina.
Maina, who is a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly misappropriating N2bn.
Ndume has now disclosed that he would no longer stand as surety for Maina after the latter jumped bail and fled the country.
The lawmaker also revealed that he would instruct his legal team to begin the process of terminating the surety bond he signed for Maina, as he could no longer trust Maina.
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Africa Today News, New York gathered that in court on Monday, his lawyer, Marcel Oru, applied formally for the discharge of Ndume as surety, asking for the release of the title documents that were deposited in court.
Oru argued that the application was brought pursuant to the fact that Maina has been re-arrested and is currently in custody.
Justice Okon Abang, however, raised the issue of whether the court has the jurisdiction to hear the application since he said an appeal has been entered.
Oru then argued that ordinarily, the court wouldn’t have jurisdiction but in the prevailing circumstances, Maina has been re-arrested and is currently standing trial before the court. Thus, he was of the view that the court can hear the application.
EFCC’s lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar, argued his notice of preliminary objection, stating that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the application.
Abubakar urged the court to strike out the application of the surety.
The court adjourned to October 4 to rule on the notice of preliminary objection.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK