Why I Agreed To Stand As Surety For Maina – Ndume

Former leader of the Nigerian Senate, Ali Ndume, has revealed why he decided to stand as a surety for Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team.

According to the chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, one of the reasons why he decided to stand for the suspect who is currently being prosecuted by the Nigerian anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on money laundering charges was because of his health condition, noting that it took him 6 months to reach the resolution.

Naija News understands that Maina on Tuesday, June 23 revealed at the Federal High Court in Abuja that senator Ndume who represents Borno South in the 9th Assembly would be standing as a surety for his bail.

Maina confirmed the development via his lawyer, Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN, at the resumed hearing in his trial yesterday.

Speaking on the decision to stand for the suspect, Ndume in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday morning noted that standing for Maina as surety is one of the crosses he had to carry as his elected senator.

According to the senator, doing so will also enable his constituent to attend to his deplorable health condition which demands urgent medical attention.

“It took me over six months to agree to be his surety. First, the bail condition requires a serving Senator and I happened to be the one,” said Maina.

He added, “Second, his health condition is deteriorating and needs special medical attention.

“Third, his offence is bailable, and lastly, I am not saying the court should discharge and acquit him. If he is (found) guilty, he will be sentenced.”

“It was a hard decision I had to make. I have a duty to represent the good, the bad and the ugly of Borno South. May Allah guide us to the right path. Amen.”

Meanwhile, a petition has been submitted at the Lagos State office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, by members of the Civil Society Network Against Corruption.