Witness tells court Maina opened secret account in sister’s name

The ongoing trial of former chairman, Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina has opened up more can of worms following a fresh revelation by Mairo Bashir, a business manager with United Bank for Africa, and first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial.

Bashir told the Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday, which was presided over by Justice Okon Abang, that the defendant (Maina) operated a secret bank account in his sister’s name.

According to Bashir, Maina transferred funds amounting to N2 billion through the secret account which he passed off as the sister’s.

READ ALSO: Buhari hints at extending gas pipeline to North Africa

The witness who was under cross-examination by defence counsel, Esther Uzoma also denied harbouring any ulterior motive in her testimonies, revealing further that Maina presented a certificate of incorporation for Common Input and Properties Ltd, with his sister’s photograph and her personal details but endorsed the document with his own signature.

This was revealed in a statement by the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren.

Maina is facing a 12 counts bordering on operating fictitious bank accounts, corruption fraud and money laundering to the tune of over N2billion which was instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (INEC).

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now