The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, said it would on Thursday, consider the merit of an application the former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who is facing trial over his alleged complicity in a N2billion fraud, filed to be released on bail pending his trial.
Trial Justice Okon Abang heard and reserved ruling on the bail application, even though Maina was absent in court.
An officer of the Nigeria Correctional Service Center, Kuje, had shortly after the matter was called up for the continuation of trial, produced a medical report that indicated that the ex-pension boss was seriously sick.
The report, which was signed by one Dr. Idowu Ajayi, further revealed that Maina was receiving medical attention at his detention center. Maina had earlier lamented that Justice Abang aggravated his high blood pressure on the day he was arraigned.
He said his health deteriorated after the Judge asked the court registrar to order him to stop staring at the bench, a pronouncement Maina said made him feel as if he was being convicted.
Meanwhile, though he was not present in court on Tuesday, based on the medical report, Justice Abang, deferred his trial and directed a staff of the United Bank for Africa, UBA, Mrs. Mairo Mohammed, who had appeared as the first prosecution witness, PW-1, in the matter, to return on the next adjourned date.
The trial Judge, however, refused an application by Maina’s lawyer, Mr. Francis Oronsaye, for the hearing of his client’s motion for bail to be suspended till a later date.
