In a judgment Friday by a three-member panel of the court unanimously affirmed the November 8, 2021 judgment delivered by Justice Okong Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which convicted and subsequently sentenced Maina.
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The minister and the C-G made the allegation in their joint counter affidavit in opposition to Maina’s originating motion filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order shortly after Maina’s counsel, Ibrahim Idriss, SAN, informed that he had carried out the earlier court directive to effect service of processes on the respondents within three days of the order.
Maina told Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court Abuja in an ex-parte motion filed by his lawyer, Israel Obaniyi.
Though Justice Okon Abang sentenced Maina to 61 years’ imprisonment and held that Maina should be with in NCoS but EFCC operatives disagreed with their counterparts in NCoS.
The court had found him guilty of inducing staff of Fidelity Bank to open bank accounts for him without conducting due diligence and money laundering.
In 2019, Maina was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) — but he pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on October 25, 2019 arraigned Maina (1st defendant), alongside his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd (2nd defendant) before the judge.
Maina, through his lawyer, Anayo Adibe, also prayed the court, presided over by Justice Okon Abang, to set aside its order made on July 16, closing his case for adoption of final written addresses of parties in the suit.
Justice Okon Abang, in a ruling, held that the application filed by Ndume amounted to an abuse of court process.
The vacation judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, refused to hear the bail application which was moved by Maina’s counsel, David Iorhemba, on the grounds that it was contentious.
Justice Okon Abang who gave the order, also fixed October 4 for parties in the case to adopt their final written addresses.
Justice Okon Abang fixed the date after counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mohammed Abubakar, adopted his final written address.
An officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Kuje, who did not mention his name in the open court, told Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that Maina was not in the courtroom because of knee problems.
The judge will also hear the trial of Faisal, the son of the former pension reformed boss, who is on trial on three counts bordering on money laundering, the same day.
The EFCC also called on Justice Tsoho not to transfer the trial of his son, Faisal, and few other cases which matters had far been heard to a new judge.
The new date was fixed following a meeting of counsel for the prosecution and defence with Justice Abang at his chamber.
Based on the date in the subpoena issued, the witnesses were expected to testify between March 9 and March 11.
Okon Abang, the presiding judge, had on Maina’s request, issued a subpoena compelling the AGF, Magu and nine others to come before the court on March 9, 10, and 11 to testify for the defendant.
The EFCC counsel, Farouk Abdullah, urged Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to reject the oral application by Katu on the grounds that it failed to comply with relevant section of the law.