EFCC Urges Tsoho To Retain Abang For Maina’s Case

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has urged the Chief
Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, not to
reassign the case of the ex-chairman of the defunct Pension
Reformed Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, to another judge.

The EFCC also called on Justice Tsoho not to transfer the trial
of his son, Faisal, and few other cases to a new judge.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Okon Abang was
the presiding judge in the trial of the Maina and his son, before
he was transferred to the Warri division of FHC.

Justice Tsoho, had, in a March 16 circular, ordered a mass
transfer of judges in the 36 divisions of the court and directed
the newly posted judges to assume duty in their newly reassigned
places on April 12.

While Justice D.U. Okonkwo took over from Abang, Justice
Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo, who was transferred to Enugu, was
replaced by Justice Zainab Abubakar and Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, now
in Calabar division, was replaced by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon.

The EFCC subsequently applied to Justice Tsoho for a fiat to
allow Justice Abang conclude some of the cases he started,
including Maina’s matter.

A competent source at the EFCC’s office told NAN that since
Maina’s trial had gone far, it would only be good, in the interest
of justice, for Abang to conclude the matter.

“He (Maina) has been arraigned, we have called all our witnesses
and the defendant (Maina) has opened his defence.

“So it will only be proper for the presiding judge to conclude
the trial to guard against delay in justice,” the source said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has urged the Chief
Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, not to
reassign the case of the ex-chairman of the defunct Pension
Reformed Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, to another judge.

The EFCC also called on Justice Tsoho not to transfer the trial
of his son, Faisal, and few other cases to a new judge.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Okon Abang was
the presiding judge in the trial of the Maina and his son, before
he was transferred to the Warri division of FHC.

Justice Tsoho, had, in a March 16 circular, ordered a mass
transfer of judges in the 36 divisions of the court and directed
the newly posted judges to assume duty in their newly reassigned
places on April 12.

While Justice D.U. Okonkwo took over from Abang, Justice
Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo, who was transferred to Enugu, was
replaced by Justice Zainab Abubakar and Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, now
in Calabar division, was replaced by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon.

The EFCC subsequently applied to Justice Tsoho for a fiat to
allow Justice Abang conclude some of the cases he started,
including Maina’s matter.

A competent source at the EFCC’s office told NAN that since
Maina’s trial had gone far, it would only be good, in the interest
of justice, for Abang to conclude the matter.

“He (Maina) has been arraigned, we have called all our witnesses
and the defendant (Maina) has opened his defence.

“So it will only be proper for the presiding judge to conclude
the trial to guard against delay in justice,” the source said.