The trial of Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTM), was, on Thursday, discontinued at the Federal High Court, Abuja, due to his worsening health condition.
It was observed that while proceeding was going on, a security operative attached to the court approached the judge, Justice Okon Abang, to inform the judge that water was being poured on Maina, who is seated at the back row of the court room.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Maina had, on Oct. 25, arraigned alongside a firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Okon Abang.
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Maina is standing trial on alleged money laundering charges to the tune of over N2 billion preferred against him by the EFCC. While Maina is the 1st defendant in the case, the company was the 2nd defendant.
When the matter came up on Thursday, the prosecution counsel, Mohammed Abubakar informed the court that the business of the day was to take response to the submissions of the first and second defendants’ objections to the admissibility of document the prosecution wanted to tender in evidence.
However, Maina’s lawyer, Francis Oronsaye, drew the court’s attention to the deteriorating health of his client. He said: “My Lord, my client is bleeding and I will seek your indulgence to allow him take his medication.”
Oronsaye told Justice Abang that due to his deteriorating health condition, Maina would not be able to stand the trial.
He pleaded with the judge to shift the trial pending the time the defendant would recover to be able to stand for his defence in the criminal charges against him.
The request for adjournment was not opposed by counsel to the EFCC, Mr Mohammed Abubakar.