Television Nigerian

A former Chairman, Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, on, Wednesday told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that he had no case to answer over allegations levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Maina, who told Justice Okon Abang shortly after the EFCC, through its counsel, Farouk Abdullah, closed its case, said he would be filing a no-case submission.

The former pension reformed boss, through his lawyer, Anayo Adibe, made his intention known shortly after he cross-examined the ninth prosecution witness (PW9), Rouqquaya Ibrahim, an EFCC investigator.

Justice Abang adjourned the matter until Friday, December 10, for counsel to the defendant, Adibe, to address the court orally and for the prosecution counsel, Abdullah, to respond to the no-case submission.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Maina (1st defendant) was arraigned before Justice Abang on October 25, 2019, by the EFCC alongside his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd.

Although he is facing 12-counts bordering on money laundering up to the tune of N2 billion, he had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Thieves have invaded the Akwa Ibom State Government House in Uyo, the state capital where millions of Naira was carted away.

Confirming this on Wednesday, December 9, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Ekerete Udoh said the thieves broke into the Government House in the night of Tuesday, December 8, and stole the money which was meant for journalists in the state.

The total amount which was not disclosed, according to Udoh, was in “Ghana-Must-Go” bags which were left in the office of his Secretary, but upon resumption of work the next day, the money had vanished with only the bags left on the floor.

The locks to the office were reportedly tampered with by the thieves, Udoh added.

A journalist in the state who spoke on the theft on the condition of anonymity said:

“We heard that the money came in yesterday afternoon, but they refused to share it to the people it was meant for.

“So, the thieves or whoever came in the night and destroyed the keys and gained access to the office of the Secretary to the CPS.

“This is not the first time the government House Press Centre is being robbed.

“We have lost about three plasma televisions, one at the reception, one in the reporters’ office and the other in the office used by cameramen.

“In all of these, no arrest has been made and there has been no replacement. We wonder who these unknown thieves are and why they have not been arrested all these while.

“We are suspecting foul play here. ”

Udoh, however, promised that the journalists who were meant to benefit from the stolen money would still get their money at a later date.