This was disclosed by a lawyer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mohammed Abubakar, at the resumed hearing in his money laundering trial before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja today Thursday, February 4.

Recall that Faisal like his father went underground after he was granted bail by the court. While his father was re-arrested in the Niger Republic on December 1, 2020, Faisal remained elusive until EFCC recently got intelligence that he has fled to the US where he is believed to be a citizen.

In a ruling earlier, Justice Abang ordered among others, that a House of Representatives member, Sani Dan-Galadima (representing Kaura-Namoda Federal Constituency of Zamfara), who stood surety for the fleeing Faisal, should forfeit his property, worth N60million, which he pledged as a guarantee for the N60m bail bond he signed.

Maina is currently in EFCC custody. He is being prosecuted on 12 counts of money laundering to the tune of N2bn by the EFCC.

Justice Okon Abang who disclosed that his trial on money laundering charges would proceed in absentia pending his arrest, also summoned his surety, a member of the House of Representatives, Sani Umar Dangaladima representing the Kaura-Namoda Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, to appear in court to show cause why he should not forfeit the N60m bail bond which he signed for the ex-pension boss’ son.

The order for Faisal’s arrest was granted after EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Mohammed Abubakar notified the court that the defendant and his surety had not attended court since June 24, 2020.

At the court proceeding on Tuesday, November 24 which neither Faisal, his surety, nor his lawyer attended, Abubakar applied for the revocation of his bail which was granted by Justice Abang. He also adjourned the case till Wednesday, November 25.

This is coming a few days after the same court ordered the arrest of Faisal’s father, Abdulrasheed Maina for jumping bail in his ongoing N2.1bn money laundering trial.