Northern youth coalition wants Maina’s bail conditions reviewed



Northern Youth Coalition for Justice has called on international community and human rights groups to prevail on Justice Okon Abang to review the bail conditions handed out to ex-pension chief, Abdulrasheed Maina.
The group, in a statement signed by its Secretary, Abubakar Usman Yola on Tuesday and made available to newsmen, said that the bail conditions are too stringent and  may be impossible for the ex-pension chief to meet.  


“It is apparently clear that the said presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, has deliberately decided a way of keeping Abdulrasheed Maina in continued detention. The bail conditions he offered are not just harsh but also mischievous, as they are jail terms given as bail terms to keep Maina in detention. 
”Many lawyers including Senior Advocates of Nigeria had observed that such bail conditions have never been given to anyone before in the history of the judiciary. It is calculated and concocted in such a way that it is virtually impossible to fulfill such conditions by the defendant in the case before him.
“The bail was granted based on the following terms: the defendant is admitted to bail in the sum of N1 billion with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be serving Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that do not have criminal cases pending in any court. The two sureties must have properties in Maitama or Asokoro, FCT with Certificate of Occupancy.
“The Chief Registrar of this court shall in writing ascertain the validity or otherwise of the Certificate of Occupancy issued by the relevant Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory. The defendant shall deposit his travel documents with the Chief Registrar of this Court. The Sureties shall undertake to appear in Court with the 1st defendant, at all adjourned dates, pending conclusion of trial.


“Where at least one of the sureties is not in court with the defendant, the court shall be at liberty to revoke the bail of the 1st defendant unless good and sufficient reasons are given for their absence. The sureties shall each file affidavit of means with two passport photographs attached, stating their capability and capacity of paying the penal sum to the Federal Government or the Court, in the event of being called upon to do so.
“These monstrous terms are as deceptive as they are vendetta and divisive way of infringing on the fundamental rights to freedom of the defendant. 
“Maina is a Nigerian whom, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice recently stated under oath at the National Assembly, recovered the sum of N1.3 trillion for the present administration and is yet to be paid his 5% (N65 billion) whistle blowers fees. If one puts this against the paltry allegation of N2.1 billion, one would wonder who is honestly owing who?
“The bail conditions are not meant to be fulfilled but to serve as an excuse for his continued detention citing his inability to meet the terms as reason for his detention. We therefore, appealed to the Chief Justice of the Federation and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, to caution Justice Okon Abang and ensure that he doesn’t continue playing any agency’s script but follows the Constitution to the latter. 
“We request that the judge be directed to follow rule of law and accord Maina an urgent review of the bail terms as the offences he is accused of committing are bailable. We urge International and Nigerian based human rights groups to stand up to this gross violation of the liberty of such a patriotic citizen whose health has been of a great concern to his family and well wishers,” he said.

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