Ndume Opts Out As Surety For Maina, Says Ex-Pension Boss Not Trustworthy

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, has directed his legal team to begin the process of terminating the surety bond he signed for the former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Force Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.

Ndume, who is representing Borno South Senatorial District in the Senate, stood surety for Maina, his constituent, who is standing trial at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The Judge had as part of the bail conditions, demanded among others, that Maina should produce a serving senator as his surety.

Ndume, being the representative of the ex-pension boss in the Senate, agreed to stand surety for Maina but the latter jumped bail and escaped from Nigeria.

The judge subsequently remanded Ndume in the Kuje Correctional Centre following his inability to produce Maina when the case came up for hearing.

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A legal battle ensued and Ndume was left off the hook while Maina, the fugitive, was arrested in Niger Republic and extradited to Nigeria on Thursday.

He was subsequently remanded in Kuje prison by the FCT High Court on Friday.

Reacting to the development in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Friday, Ndume commended the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and other security personnel that were involved in the arrest and extradition of Maina.

He said the development has established the fact that the Nigeria Police Force is not a write-off.

Ndume said, “I commend the Nigeria Police Force for executing the bench warrant issued on Maina by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

“This has shown that the NPF is not a write-off.

“They are professionals under the able leadership of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

“With the successful arrest, extradition and subsequent remand of Maina at the Kuje Correctional Centre, I will proceed to direct my legal team to begin the process of withdrawing my suretiship for Maina with immediate effect because his action has shown that he is not trustworthy.”

The Senator also thanked all Nigerians especially members of the National Assembly, the political class, family, and friends, who showed serious concern when the court moved against him following the disappearance of Maina, who subsequently jumped bail.

PUNCH