Barrister Esther Uzoma, counsel to erstwhile Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, on Tuesday faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on an alleged order by Justice Gabriel Kolawole that she produced her client in court.
In a statement which she issued in Abuja, Barr Uzoma said ;
“The EFCC should come clean on the matter of my client, Dr. Abdulrasheed Maina. When I appeared before His Lordship, Justice Kolawole, on July 21, I made it clear that the EFCC was yet to file any charge as well as serve any summons on Dr. Maina.
“It is trite law that you cannot say an accused is on the run when there is no charge preferred against him or any invitation extended to him.
“During the hearing for the bail application, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN),wanted the court to direct me to produce Maina in court at the next sitting which I argued that there are clear procedures,which the EFCC is familiar with and should follow.
“Naturally, the court agreed with my submission on the position of law. Therefore, it is misleading for the EFCC in its statement of Monday to mislead the public that there exists an order for Maina to be produced in court when there is no invitation extended to him talk-less of a charge preferred against him by the commission.”
EFCC had on Monday declared Maina wanted over his alleged role in fraudulent biometric contracts resulting in the mismanagement of over two billion naira pension funds.