A federal high court has fixed March 17 and 18 for Femi
Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and other prominent Nigerians
including Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), to testify
in the case of Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task
Team.
Okon Abang, the presiding judge, had on Maina’s request
issued a subpoena compelling the AGF, Falana, Ibrahim Magu, former acting
chairman of the EFCC and eight others to come before the court on March 9, 10,
and 11 to testify for the defendant.
However, none of the subpoenaed witnesses was in court on
Tuesday and Wednesday.
Others issued with the subpoena are Godwin Emefiele, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor; M. Mustapha, Hassan Salihu, Mohammed Wakil, G.T Idris, Kenneth Amabem, Ibrahim Kaigama and the CBN director of compliance.
FALANA SHOWS UP IN COURT
Falana told the court that although he has not been served
with the subpoena, he heard about it and decided to come before the court to
show respect.
Speaking with journalists, the senior advocate said the
subpoena will provide an opportunity for him to “put an end to the needless
controversy surrounding a property I never bought”.
Ngozika Ihuoma, Maina’s first witness, had on March 4 told
the court about monies and properties recovered by the former pension boss.
Ihuoma, a management consultant, whose firm, Crincad &
Cari Nigeria Ltd, was contracted by the PRTT for consultancy service, claimed
that Magu, to whom the properties were remitted, had sold some to friends and
associates including a “renowned lawyer”.
Reacting to the claim, Falana had said there was an effort
to falsely accuse him of buying the said property.
MAINA’S SECOND
WITNESS SPEAKS
Meanwhile, the defendant has called his second witness,
Charles Emoakemeh, a retired prison officer.
Emoakemeh told the court Maina was appointed director of the
pension office and recovered about N10 billion for the federal government after
removing ghost pensioners.
He also told the court that as head of the PRTT, Maina did
not have control over the disbursement of monies unless approval was sought
from the then head of service.
Maina is on trial for alleged money laundering to the tune
of N2 billion.
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