Maina Allegedly Battles Life-Threatening Ailment, Begs Court To Grant Bail

The former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina has disclosed that he is suffering from a life-threatening disease and he needs urgent medical attention.

The ex-pension taskforce boss, in an ex-parte motion filed by his lawyer, Israel Obaniyi, told Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, that there is an urgent need for Maina, who is currently serving his jail term at Kuje prison, to be taken to the hospital due to a life-threatening diseases pending the hearing and determination of his originating motion

The motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1729/2022, was dated and filed on Sept. 27.

Maina (the applicant) listed the Minister of Interior and Controller General (C-G) of Nigerian Correctional Services Centre as 1st and 2nd respondents respectively.

He also prayed for an order granting him leave to effect the service of the order, the originating motion and other subsequent processes on the respondents by substituted means.

Giving 10 grounds why the motion should be granted, Maina said the failure to treat the diseases/sicknesses he is suffering had led to his incapacitation and deterioration of his health.

“Applicant is in a critical health condition that requires urgent medical attention, hence the need for prayer one on the face of this application.

“Applicant’s fundamental rights to life, dignity of human person and freedom from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment are seriously under challenge and continually being breached by the respondents,” the motion read.

He said it was in the interest of justice to grant his application.

Justice Ekwo after reviewing the application granted leave for Maina to effect service of the order and other processes on the minister through any member of staff of Ministry of Interior, Abuja.

The judge also directed that all processes for the C-G be delivered to any officer of the Correctional Services Centre at the Headquarters in Abuja.

Ekwo consequently ordered the applicant to put the respondents on notice within three days of the order and adjourned the matter until Oct. 24 for motion.

Justice Okon Abang of a FHC had, on Nov. 8, 2021, convicted and sentenced Maina to eight years’ imprisonment for misappropriating N2 billion pension fund while serving as chairman of PR.

Maina was arraigned in 2019 on a 12 count charge bordering on alleged stealing of pension funds and money laundering.

The application was announced by Maina’s lawyer, Anayo Adibe in October after the same court convicted his (Maina) son, Faisal on three-count charge of fraud while sentencing him to 24 years ( 14 years concurrently) in his absence.