CRIME
Maina’s Son Escapes to US – EFCC
The son of former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, has reportedly escaped from the country to the United States of America.
Faisal, allegedly sneaked into Niger Republic through one of the nation’s porous borders before making his way to America.
EFCC lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar confirmed the development yesterday at a resumed hearing in the money laundering trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja before Justice Okon Abang.
Faisal, who is 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 had 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 yesterday that, from the information at the disposal of the EFCC, Faisal sneaked to the US through Niger Republic.
He faulted claim by defence lawyer, Anayo Adibe that Faisal was being held by 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 USA,” 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.
A Kaduna Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a 39-year-old travel agent, Adebayo Oyeronke, to four years imprisonment over a N6.2 million visa fraud.
Oyeronke had pleaded guilty to the charges of fraud and theft.
Delivering judgment, Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel, held that Oyeronke was guilty of defrauding Rita Francis and four others of the sum of N6.
2 million.Emmanuel who did not give the convict an option of fine, ordered him to pay N2 million each as compensation to the victims.
The magistrate also ordered him to undertake an affidavit of good conduct, pledging never to engage in any criminal or corrupt activities again.
Earlier, the prosecution Insp.
Chidi Leo told the court that the convict committed the offences between December 2024 and April 2025 at Barnawa Kaduna.Leo said that the defendant collected N6.2 million from the complainants; Rita Francis, Mohammed Sadiq, Christian Baba, Williams Abiodun and Nathan Victor, with a promise to get them Polish visa.
He said after the convict collected the money, he absconded to an unknown destination until he was arrested on May 15.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017. (NAN)
A 31-year-old woman, Opeyemi Bakare, on Tuesday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing an iPhone valued at N500,000.
Bakare, of undisclosed address, was charged with two counts of conspiracy and stealing .
The prosecutor, Insp Iyabo Oladoyin, told the court that the defendant and others at large conspired and committed the offences on May 2 at 3.
30 p. m. in the Dugbe area of Ibadan.According to Oladoyin, the defendant stole an iPhone 12 valued at N505,000, belonging to the complainant, Mr Oluseyi Oba.
The prosecutor said the phone was stolen in Dugbe Market and was tracked to the defendant.
She said the offences contravened Sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs T.G. Daodu, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties in like sum.
Daodu thereafter adjourned the case until July 8 for hearing. (NAN)
A 31-year-old woman, Opeyemi Bakare, on Tuesday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing an iPhone valued at N500,000.
Bakare, of undisclosed address, was charged with two counts of conspiracy and stealing .
The prosecutor, Insp Iyabo Oladoyin, told the court that the defendant and others at large conspired and committed the offences on May 2 at 3.30 p.m. in the Dugbe area of Ibadan.
According to Oladoyin, the defendant stole an iPhone 12 valued at N505,000, belonging to the complainant, Mr Oluseyi Oba.
The prosecutor said the phone was stolen in Dugbe Market and was tracked to the defendant.
She said the offences contravened Sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs T.G. Daodu, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties in like sum.
Daodu thereafter adjourned the case until July 8 for hearing. (NAN)
A 40 – year old prostitute, Adeosun Adepeju was on Tuesday arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stabbing her colleague in the stomach during work period.
Adepeju of undisclosed address was standing trial on a count charge bordering on assault.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecuting Counsel, Cpl.
Helen Ojo told the court that Adepeju on May 21, at about 12:30 a.m., at Ring road area, Ibadan, stabbed her colleague, Stella Mago with scissors in her stomach.Ojo said that the stabbing caused the complainant bodily harm.
She added that the offence contravened Section 335 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.
The Magistrate, Mrs M. M. Olagbenro admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N300, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Olagbenro adjourned the matter until May 30, for hearing. (NAN)
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