Connect with us

news

Maina’s son, Faisal escapes to U.S through Niger – EFCC

Published

on

  • Defence lawyer insists he is held in Sokoto
  • Court orders forfeiture of surety’s N60m property in Abuja

The son of the ex-Chairman, defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, Faisal has escaped to the United States of America (USA), after sneaking into the Niger Republic through one of the nation’s porous borders.

A lawyer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mohammed Abubakar confirmed the development on Thursday at the resumed hearing in his money laundering trial before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Faisal, who us being tried before the same judge with his father, went underground, the same way Maina, did after they were granted bail.

While Maina was re-arrested in Niger Republic and has since been ordered to be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja, his son had remained elusive until EFCC got intelligence that he has since fled to the US, where he is believed to be a citizen.

Abubakar told the court on Thursday that, from the information at the disposal of the EFC, Faisal sneaked to the USA through the Republic of Niger.

He faulted claim by defence lawyer, Anayo Adibe that Faisal was being held by either the police in Sokoto State.

“We have a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendant and his production before the court. We have been making serious efforts to implement the bench warrant.

“The defendant has absconded to the United States of American. The claim that he was arrested in Sokoto by the police was in the realm of a rumour.

“It is on record that the Nigerian and American passport of the defendant are in the custody of this court as part of the condition of his bail.“However, information at our disposal indicate that the defendant was able to sneak out of Nigeria to the Republic of Niger, from where he was able to proceed to the U.S.A,” Abubakar said.

Adibe countered Abubakar and stated that his client was in the country and in the custody of the police in Sokoto State.

The defence lawyer contended that it was impossible for Faisal to travel to the U.S when his international passports where in the custody of the court.

“On the last adjourned date, I did inform the court that the defendant was taken into custody by men of the Nigeria Police Force.

“My Lord, the following day, media reports as well as the press release by the police command in Sokoto confirmed this particular fact.

“Subsequently after, the police have not been forthcoming with information even when we demanded to see the defendant.

“Let me also say that the travelling documents of the defendant are with the court. It is speculative for the prosecutor to state that the defendant was in the U.S.

“The defendant personally called me the day he was taken into custody, but now every effort made to reach the defendant was proved abortive,” Adibe said.

He then prayed the court to grant his application, seeking the court’s permission to enable the defendant open his defence to enable him exercise his right to fair hearing.

Abubakar objected to Adibe’s prayer and urged the court to dismiss the application in view of the defendant’s continued absence in court.

He said: “Regarding fair hearing, a defendant shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard.

“But, where the defendant is afforded that opportunity and he failed or refused to take advantage of it, he cannot therefore turn around and take sanctuary under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution. The defendant was never denied fair hearing,” he said.

Ruling, Justice Abang said he did not know who to believe as it relates to information about the defendant’s whereabouts.

The judge said he would work with the facts before the court.

He then adjourned till March 31, 2021 for ruling of the defendant’s application.

In a ruling earlier, Justice Abang ordered among others, that a House of Representatives member, Sani Dan-Galadima (representing Kaura-Namoda Federal Constituency of Zamfara), who stood surety for the fleeing Faisal, should forfeit his property, worth N60million, which he pledged as guarantee for the N60m bail bond he signed.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

news

Araraume Felicitates President Tinubu on his birthday. Hails his Reform Agenda and National Milestones

Published

on

Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of his birthday, praising the President’s leadership style and the series of reforms that have shaped the direction of the country since he assumed office.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Araraume described President Tinubu as “a courageous reformer whose decisions continue to redefine Nigeria’s economic and governance landscape.” He noted that the President’s first year in office has been marked by bold policy choices aimed at stabilizing the economy and laying the groundwork for long term national development.

Araraume highlighted the removal of the petrol subsidy as one of the most significant economic decisions in recent decades, saying it demonstrated the President’s willingness to confront long‑standing structural challenges. According to him, the policy, though demanding, has redirected national resources toward infrastructure, social investment, and other critical sectors.

He also commended the administration’s unification of the foreign exchange market, describing it as a major step toward restoring investor confidence and strengthening Nigeria’s global competitiveness. The senator noted that the reforms have attracted renewed interest from international partners and signaled a commitment to transparent economic management.

Beyond economic restructuring, Araraume pointed to ongoing infrastructure expansion as evidence of the administration’s focus on national development. He cited the acceleration of key road projects, renewed efforts to expand rail connectivity, and the push to improve power generation and distribution as initiatives that reflect the President’s long term vision for a more productive Nigeria.

The senator further acknowledged the government’s interventions in agriculture, including support for mechanization and targeted programs aimed at boosting food security. He said these efforts are essential to reducing dependence on imports and strengthening local production.

On the diplomatic front, Araraume praised President Tinubu’s engagements across Africa and beyond, noting his role in strengthening regional cooperation within ECOWAS and advancing Nigeria’s interests on the global stage.

“As we celebrate this milestone, it is important to recognize the resilience and determination with which President Tinubu has approached the task of nation building,” Araraume said. “His commitment to reforms, economic stability, and democratic governance continues to inspire confidence in Nigeria’s future.”

He wished the President good health, renewed strength, and continued wisdom as he leads the country through what he described as “a defining period in Nigeria’s history.”

Continue Reading

news

Araraume Salutes Tinubu’s Vision, Lists Key Achievements on Birthday

Published

on

Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of his birthday, praising his leadership style and the series of reforms that have shaped the country’s direction since he assumed office.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Araraume described the President as “a courageous reformer whose decisions continue to redefine Nigeria’s economic and governance landscape.” He noted that Tinubu’s first year in office has been marked by bold policy choices aimed at stabilizing the economy and laying the groundwork for long-term national development.

Araraume highlighted the removal of the petrol subsidy as one of the most significant economic decisions in recent decades, saying it demonstrated the President’s willingness to confront long-standing structural challenges. According to him, the policy, though demanding, has redirected national resources toward infrastructure, social investment, and other critical sectors.

He also commended the administration’s unification of the foreign exchange market, describing it as a major step toward restoring investor confidence and strengthening Nigeria’s global competitiveness. The senator noted that the reforms have attracted renewed interest from international partners and signaled a commitment to transparent economic management.

Beyond economic restructuring, Araraume pointed to ongoing infrastructure expansion as evidence of the administration’s focus on national development. He cited the acceleration of key road projects, renewed efforts to expand rail connectivity, and the push to improve power generation and distribution as initiatives that reflect the President’s long-term vision for a more productive Nigeria.

The senator further acknowledged the government’s interventions in agriculture, including support for mechanization and targeted programmes aimed at boosting food security. He said these efforts are essential to reducing dependence on imports and strengthening local production.

On the diplomatic front, Araraume praised Tinubu’s engagements across Africa and beyond, noting his role in strengthening regional cooperation within ECOWAS and advancing Nigeria’s interests on the global stage.

“As we celebrate this milestone, it is important to recognise the resilience and determination with which President Tinubu has approached the task of nation-building,” Araraume said. “His commitment to reforms, economic stability, and democratic governance continues to inspire confidence in Nigeria’s future.”

He wished the President good health, renewed strength, and continued wisdom as he leads the country through what he described as “a defining period in Nigeria’s history.”

Continue Reading

news

APC Convention: Party Eyes Consensus for National Leadership Selection

Published

on

The All Progressives Congress has confirmed that it plans to adopt a consensus approach for selecting its national leadership during the party’s convention scheduled for March 27–28, 2026, in Abuja.

The Assistant Secretary for Media and Publicity for the APC National Convention 2026, Mary Ikoku, disclosed the plan during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday.

On the issue of elective positions during primaries, Ikoku said the party had not yet decided how these would be handled, noting that decisions may vary depending on local political dynamics.

She explained, “APC, for this convention, I am aware and can say that the party is adopting consensus for this convention. As to whether they are adopting consensus for elective positions, I do not have an answer to that because politics is local.

“So, I believe that, at the end of the day, when it comes to the issue of elective positions, the persons who would emerge aren’t often what you would want to make consensus in every space.”

Ikoku also addressed the Electoral Act’s provisions, which require political parties to register members online within a specified timeframe and outline acceptable methods for candidate selection.

She said these requirements posed challenges for some parties but reflected preparedness—or the lack thereof.

“We have an electoral law that defines the models for these elections. Direct primaries and consensus have been allowed, while indirect primaries have been taken out.

“That is the current law of the nation, passed and assented to. Now, why do you think other political parties will have issues with that?” she asked.

“That would be to say there are levels of unpreparedness of these political parties. Any political party that is worth its salt should not wait till election season to start preparing for the run for office and all of these congresses.

“It is something they would have planned ahead of time. So, when you are not proactive as a party, these kinds of situations can challenge you deeply,” she added.

Ahead of the convention, the party began screening aspirants for key positions in its National Working Committee , including National Chairman aspirant Nentawe Yilwatda and National Secretary hopeful Ajibola Basiru.

Other NWC members seeking to retain their posts include National Youth Leader Dayo Israel, Deputy National Chairman (North) Ali Bukar Dalori, National Legal Adviser Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, National Woman Leader Mary Alile Idele, and National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, among others.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025 Newsthumb Magazine | All rights reserved