Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has ordered that the embattled former chairman of the Pension Reforms Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina be remanded in prison custody.

Galaxy’s Godfrey Eshiemoghie reports that Maina who faces 12-count charge bordering on money laundering, operating fictitious bank accounts and fraud gave a not-guilty plea when he was arraigned at the Court Friday.

Justice Abang granted the remand order following a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who filed the lawsuit against Abdulrasheed Maina.

The judge has consequently adjourned until October 30 for trial proper and November 19 for suitability of the defendant’s application for bail filed before arraignment.

Recall that another judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Folasade Giwa-Ogunbanjo, had on Tuesday granted an interim forfeiture order on 23 landed properties traced to Maina.

The motion was brought pursuant to section 17(1) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.

The properties include houses, estates and companies located in Abuja, Kaduna, Borno and Nasarawa states.

Faisal Maina who was also arraigned by the EFCC on Friday pleaded not guilty to a 3-count charge brought against him.