Crime
Why Maina Should Be Granted Bail in Liberal Terms – Angela Okafor
Before I commence this expository, it is instructive to disabuse your mind that the former Pension boss, Dr. Abdurasheed Maina Jumped the initial bail granted him by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
He did not violate the terms of his bail at any one time, but only sought for medical attention or risked his knee being amputated.
Is it profitable to watch Maina die before his trial? Or allow justice take its natural cause?
Remember It is only a healthy person that can stand trial. Life is sacred and should be treated as such at all material times no matter what.
The above postulations stand tall and unwavering especially when looked at holistically and objectively with the lens of natural justice and good conscience.
As a Public Affairs Analyst of international repute, I have observed that if Dr. Maina wanted to jump bail and abandon his trial, Niger Republic would not be his destination. He would have eloped to the United States of America where he is a bonafide citizen without criminal records.
Therefore, it is a beer parlour argument to say a brainy personality like Maina wanted to jump bail. It does not hold a single drop of water at all.
By way of bringing you closer to true facts, Maina was arraigned sometime in October 2019 on politically motivated money laundering charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, after he insisted that the Magu led EFCC should account for the over 237 properties recovered by the Pension Regorm Task Team, to which EFCC was a member.
Shortly after arraignment, he was granted bail by the honorable court on haculean terms, which has never been given even to terrorists and or those with treasonable offences. That bail would scare anyone to death. It was done in such a way that which would be difficult for any normal human being to meet, but Maina eventually perfected the worst ever bail conditions in Nigeria after he had spent more than 9 calender months in unnecessary custody.
However, as a result of the period spent in custody, his fragile health took a turn for the worse and he urgently sought medical attention upon his release on bail.
In October 2020, he was absent during his trial because he had to undergo a medical procedure on his knee, this was communicated to the honorable court, attaching his medical report.
Since the court declined to honour the said medical report, his counsel informed him on the 29th of October 2020 at about 4pm in his hospital bed at Maitama General Hospital, that the honorable court discountenanced his medical report and instead revoked his bail and ordered for his arrest.
If you were in Maina’s Shoe, what would you do at this crossroad hour? Would your instinct not tell you that the judge who failed to honour your medical report would do more hurting things to you? Let that be in your mind.
As a result of the order for his arrest, he decided to seek for a better medical facility for the treatment of his knee, and was eventually referred to the Military Hospital in Chad and Niger Republic. His family opted for Niger due to the insurgency along the Chad axis, where the knee surgery was successfully carried out.
He was recuperating from the surgery at the Military Hospital in Niamey when his Doctor informed him of presence of Authorities making enquires about him, and offered to take him to a secure place through a route, but he refused to run. He thereafter placed several calls to his larger Family where a decision was made to allow the Authorities see him, where they discussed at length and he subsequently agreed to follow them back to Abuja then taken into custody.
His detention in Kuje Correctional Center has worsened his medical condition which continues to deteriorate to a point where death is very near. “This man did not kill anyone, nor did he rob anyone or any institution”. “Why do we keep hearing Maina Maina instead of all the other members of the Pension Reform Task Team”?
What shall we gain if we lose this amazon to the cold hands of death before his trial is successfully completed?
For the avoidance of doubt, Maina’s lawyer, Anayo Adibe some time ago made a disclosure at a press briefing in Abuja that Maina has been taken to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada after his serious medical complications had failed to respond to treatment at the Kuje Correctional facility.
In his exact words, he said: “I have gone to see him. He is having serious health challenges. From my findings Maina suffered partial stroke as a result of hitting his head on the floor when he collapsed in front of Justice Abang and Lawyers in the open court. The Doctor at the Federal High Court had checked his blood pressure after the collapse which had a reading of 242/150 and that also caused the slight bleeding in the brain. His hypertension is life-threatening.”
“He has been stooling uncontrollably for six weeks now and they have administered all the drugs available to them but he is still stooling today, and can hardly move his legs and other parts of his body.”
“I can confirm that he is now being attended to at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada but I learnt they have taken him back to the correctional facility two days ago to continue his treatment.”
“Series of scans were run on him including MRI, CT SCAN , ECG, KIDNEY, LIVER TESTS and others to determine the true state of his health.” “ The result is alarming.
He said “Although the Leadership of the Correctional Service have tried very well, to keep Maina’s health under control, it is unfortunate the facility is not equipped enough to give him adequate medical attention, hence an urgent need for the court to grant Maina bail so that he can attend to his health problem.”
In a recent Phone Conversation, Mainas Lawyer Barr Anayo had told journalists that Maina’s health worsened very badly, when he heard that his only son cannot be accounted for by the EFCC and or police, even after his car was recently recovered from the Sokoto State Police Command, without any information about his whereabout.
To track what Maina’s lawyer said about his client’s health condition, I discovered that Maina made several visits to the said hospital, following life-threatening ailments. In fact
Let me posit further that except the honorable Court grants Maina a fresh bail on health grounds in the most liberal terms, for the purpose of receiving urgent medical attention, where his family can offer their assistance to him in a well equipped Hospital of their choice, I fear for his precious life.
Nothing stops the court from placing him on surveillance which may include regular phone calls to the Court Registrar, or visit to the Court once a week to sign a standing register , and registering with court whatever health facility he will be admitted to, anywhere in Nigeria.
To avoid miscarriage of Justice, I implore Justice Okon Abang to handle Maina’s case with uthmost wisdom and caution, and grant him bail in favourable terms, which are achievable in few days, in view of his deteriorating health condition because the case against him is even politically inclined, which is a public knowledge..
How can a person who worked hard to recover N1.3TR for the Buhari administration, as confirmed by the Authorities with an agreement to be paid N65b. Being 5% whistle blowers fees, be humiliated in this Government of anti corruption, instead of being rewarded? Posterity will surely judge us and show the world the truth behind these seemingly retinue of politically motivated trumped up charges being meted against innocent and patriotic Nigerian. The Almighty shall also judge us.
The enemies of this administration are the ones behind Maina’s travails because they do not want President Buhari to succeed, and do not want Maina to reveal where other such funds are being hidden. Am very sure hundreds of Millions of Naira has been spent by the powers that be in using the Media to destroy a hard earned image by a patriotic Nigerian in the person of Abdulrashid Maina.
I have done my findings which took me to some parts of this country and I have also been opportuned to meet responsible public officers and Senior Security agents who worked with Maina, where I concluded that Maina has the brains and technical expertise to recover the much needed funds to run this administration instead of borrowing money up and down.
Truth is bitter but it is a universal commodity valued by people of integrity. I am not a Northerner and haven’t met Maina, but the truth is sacrosanct and need to be told.
Dr, Mrs Angela Okafor,
Public Affairs Analyst,
Writes From Obodo Ukpa, Enugu State.
A civic advocacy organisation, Zamfara Accountability and Development Coalition (ZADC), has accused top officials in the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal of hijacking and diverting funds meant for local government development across the state.
In a statement released on Sunday, signed by its president, Salisu Bako Maradun, the group said the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Commissioner for Finance, the Accountant-General, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs have allegedly formed a “self-serving alliance” that controls and misappropriates local council allocations.
“These individuals have captured the financial architecture of Zamfara’s 14 local governments. Their actions amount to economic sabotage and a betrayal of public trust,” the statement read.
ZADC said the funds sent to local governments from the Federation Account are routinely withheld and mismanaged at the state level, leaving the local councils unable to deliver basic services or execute projects that could ease the suffering of residents.
“Local governments in Zamfara have become ceremonial offices. The real work of looting is done in Gusau. Month after month, huge allocations arrive, but they disappear before they reach the grassroots,” the group said.
According to the group, this alleged financial malpractice is responsible for the worsening state of infrastructure and public services in rural areas of Zamfara, where insecurity, poverty, and neglect continue to define daily life.
“Health centres have no medicines, schools are empty shells, and rural roads are death traps. Yet the officials at the top are living in obscene luxury,” ZADC said.
The group also accused Governor Lawal of enabling the rot through silence and inaction, despite widespread reports of mismanagement under his watch.
“Governor Lawal cannot continue to look the other way while Zamfara’s commonwealth is stolen in broad daylight. His failure to act has emboldened those bleeding the state dry,” the group stated.
They also describe the state’s Joint Allocation Committee (JAC) as compromised and opaque, claiming that local government chairmen are kept in the dark about the actual figures shared each month.
“The JAC process has become a monthly ritual of secrecy. Funds are shared without documentation, accountability, or transparency. What we have is a complete breakdown of fiscal responsibility,” the group lamented.
ZADC claimed that over the past six months, the state has received billions of naira in local government allocations, yet there has been “zero reflection” of that money in any council area.
“Communities in Talata Mafara, Maru, Bukkuyum, and Tsafe have not seen any government project in over a year. The same can be said for Gummi, Kaura-Namoda, and Bakura. This is not just neglect. It is organised looting,” it said.
The group, therefore, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to launch a full investigation into the finances of Zamfara’s local government ministry and arrest those found culpable.
“We are calling on the EFCC to intervene without delay. This is not the time for subtlety. The commissioner for local government, commissioner for finance, accountant-general, and the permanent secretary must be arrested and charged with corruption,” the statement added.
ZADC noted that the people of Zamfara have suffered enough and can no longer afford to have their future traded by those in power.
“This is a state battling chronic insecurity, mass unemployment, and underdevelopment. Yet those in charge of local government finances are behaving like warlords in a conquered territory,” the group said.
It concluded by demanding that all stolen funds be recovered and channelled back to community projects to give Zamfara’s grassroots a fighting chance.
“We want every kobo accounted for. Zamfara belongs to its people, not a few godfathers and greedy bureaucrats. This impunity must stop now,” the group declared.
Crime
“My Children And I Are Not Safe If You Release Mukaila Salau Actor” – Idowu Keshinro’s Widow Begs Lagos Attorney General
The widow of Idowu Keshinro, a staffer of Ikosi-Ejirin local government who was killed in April 2024 has cried out to the Attorney General of Lagos, Mr. Lawal Pedro, Governor Babajide Sanwoolu over rumours that those arrested in connection to the death of her husband, especially Mukaila Salau Actor will be soon be released unconditionally.
The Widow, Funke Keshinro, in an interview made it known that one of the suspects, Abubakar Sulaimon Miyaki, who has been released, has been boasting of his connection with the attorney general, making it known that the other suspect arrested will soon be released.
She made it known that if they are released as rumoured, the lives of her and the children of the deceased are not safe because the suspects are ready to cause more mayhem for them.
She revealed that rumours have it that the Attorney general of Lagos state has collected the case file for a review of the case and this has stalled sitting on the matter in court. She urged those in power to intervene in the matter to ensure justice prevails.
“Abubakar Sulaiman Miyaki has been saying he has settled attorney general and that they will release those that have been arrested in connection with the death of Idowu Keshinro, my late husband who was shot multiple times and died on April 4 2024. If they are released, my three children and I are not safe because we won’t be able to go anywhere.
“Anyone that is killed is meant to be killed but when criminals are released, they will continue doing what they have done. I want to please urge Governor Sanwoolu to intervene in this matter, I am begging those in power to please help in this matter.
“I learnt the Attorney General has collected the case file for a review and because of that, they are yet to sit on the matter in court. I don’t know what to do other than begging those that can intervene to please help my family.”
Meanwhile, a petition has been written to the Attorney General and Governor Babajide Sanwoolu about the rumoured proposed release of Mukaila Salau Actor and other suspect who had been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police for criminal offences.
“Further to our brief, the aforesaid persons are notorious criminals having criminal cases hanging on their neck as a golden chain. As a result of the criminal activities perpetrated by MUKAILA OLALEKAN SALAU (A.K.A ACTOR), he was declared WANTED by the Nigeria Police for the offences of Criminal Conspiracy, Murder and unlawful possession of fire arms in Moro Village, Ikorodu, Lagos State sometimes in 2017. MUKAILA SALAU (A.K.A ACTOR) and the aforesaid persons have become conkerworms in the lives of the inhabitants of Isiu, Ota-Ikosi Via Agbowa, Ikorodu, Lagos. The said persons are notorious cult members leaders committed crime with impunity at will without any regards to the rule of law. It is painful to stress here that, the said persons perpetrated heinous crime at different times, got arrested but later released without any justification, hence the boast of the aforesald persons that they are well connected and as a result could escape justice even where murder is committed lIke in the instance of our jants thereof. The photocopy of the police special bulletin where MUKAILA OLALEKAN SALAU (AKA A ACTOR) was declared WANTED and photographs of the said person and one of his syndicate are hereby annexed for ease of reference”
It was also noted that Abubakar Sulaimon has also been allegedly committing heinous crimes since his release. The Attorney General was also fingered in the petition as the official that initiated the release of the suspect.
“That upon the preceding paragraph, the Attorney General of Lagos State in a very strange twist of event ordered for a review of the said Legal Advice by the Director of Public Prosecution, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos and thereupon set free, and terminated the court proceeding against Abubakar Sulaimon Mayaki for the said murder of the said IDOWU KESHINRO to the total shock of all and sundry.”
“Further to our brief, the aforesaid persons are notorious criminals having criminal cases hanging on their neck as a golden chain. As a result of the criminal activities perpetrated by MUKAILA OLALEKAN SALAU (A.K.A ACTOR), he was declared WANTED by the Nigeria Police for the offences of Criminal Conspiracy, Murder and unlawful possession of fire arms in Moro Village, Ikorodu, Lagos State sometimes in 2017. MUKAILA SALAU (A.K.A ACTOR) and the aforesaid persons have become conkerworms in the lives of the inhabitants of Isiu, Ota-Ikosi Via Agbowa, Ikorodu, Lagos. The said persons are notorious cult members leaders committed crime with impunity at will without any regards to the rule of law. It is painful to stress here that, the said persons perpetrated heinous crime at different times, got arrested but later released without any justification, hence the boast of the aforesaid persons that they are well connected and as a result could escape justice even where murder is committed lIke in the instance of our jants thereof. The photocopy of the police special bulletin where MUKATLA¿LALEKAN SALAU (AKA A ACTOR) was declared WANTED and photographs of the said person and one of his syndicate are hereby annexed for ease of reference”
The petition also noted that Abubakar Suleimon has been boasting of his connection with powerful politicians, making it known that he will ensure others in custody are released.
“We have the brief of our clients that ABUBAKAH SULEIMON MIYAKI and others continue to boast that MUKAILA SALAU (AKA ACTOR) would be released unconditionally as they clairned to have connection to few politicians who would lead them to the office of the Attorney General and or have sufficient money to access the said office so as to ensure the Attorney General exercises his prerogative powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to release MUKAILA SALAU (A.K A ACTOR) and others in the above mentioned charge.”
It would be recalled that the deceased, Idowu Keshinro, before he died mentioned names of people he identified as his killers. Among them was Abubakar Suleimon Miyaki, Mukaila Salau ACTOR, and several others at large.
The widow of Idowu Keshinro, the murdered Ota Ikosi Ejinrin LCDA staff has cried out for justice following the gruesome killing of her husband whom she had three children with.
The widow, Funke Keshinro stated that since her husband was killed, life has not been the same for her and the children because the deceased was the breadwinner of the family.
She revealed that she had to change the schools of the children because it’s been difficult to afford the private schools their father had enrolled them in before he died.
‘’Since my husband died, life has not been easy at all because when he was alive, he never joked with his children but now, it’s just me alone and it’s not easy. Since he died, I had to change the schools of the children to government-owned schools from private schools because I can’t continue all he used to do.’’
While speaking on what she wants from the government, Funke asserted that she wants justice for deceased husband. She mentioned that she doesn’t want the person that killed her husband to live because there are rumours that the arrested suspect would be released at the next court sitting slated for November 26.
Some of the suspects involved in this murder include Mukaila Salau, Tiamiyu Ahmed, Waliu Suleimon, Ibrahim Ekemode, Akande Ahmed Omogbemi, Abubakar Suleiman Mayaki, and others who are currently at large.
Funke tearfully noted that the children can’t recognize their father because they are still small, explaining how it’s been difficult raising them alone because their father’s life was cut short.
“I want the government to please fast-track justice; the person that killed him should also die. I want justice and nothing more. We have heard that they have arrested some people but we are waiting for judgement. I want a judgment that would be good for the three children and me. These children cannot even recognize their father because they are still young and I have also heard they want to release some of those who were arrested. Please, the government should help me, everyone that knows about my husband’s death should be judged accordingly.”
Meanwhile, in a petition dated October 18th 2024 written to the attorney general of Lagos state, it was noted that the suspects that have been arrested are currently boasting that they will be released at the next court sitting. They had been arraigned at Ogba Magistrate court on two occasions for their involvement in the murder of Idowun Keshinro.
The family of the deceased however, in the petition, called on the Lagos state government and Ministry of justice to ensure justice isn’t perverted for the sake of the deceased family and the peace of the community.
‘’It is our further brief that; other persons who are still at large with their syndicate are now intensifying efforts to ensure that they and the aforementioned persons escape justice by way of perversion of the cause of justice in respect of the subject matter.’’
‘’Furthermore, we have the brief of our client that the said persons and one KABIRU ABUBAKAR SULAIMON who is a brother to one of the defendants in the said charge continue to boast that the defendants would be released unconditionally as they claim to have connection to few politicians who would lead them to the office of the Attorney General and or have enough money to access same so as to ensure the Attorney General exercises his prerogative powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to release the Defendants in the above charge unconditionally’’
‘’We believe that the office of the Attorney General is dignifiedly sacred and clothed with Honour and same deserves utmost respect or regard from all and sundry as the case maybe. The noise cum brag of the aforementioned persons to pervert cause of justice at all cost in the above mentioned charge has now become deafening in the circumstance of our client thereof Our client and members of his family are hapless and continue to live in perpetual despair and would suffer untoward agony in the event the above mentioned persons make do of their boast and intention to escape justice in respect of the said charge’’, the petition reads in part.
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