The former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who is being prosecuted on money laundering charges, has been released from the Kuje prison in Abuja.

A lawyer in his defence team, Ademola Adedipe, confirmed this to AFNEWS correspondent on Tuesday.

Adedipe said Maina had been in detention since November 2019 following his arraignment before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

His release came about a month after the judge accepted the Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, as surety for the bail earlier granted the defendant.

“He (Maina)was released about 6pm on Monday. We are happy that he had been released. He can now attend to his health and have unfettered access to his defence team in preparation for his defence in court,” Adedipe stated.

Asked why it took about a month after the judge in a ruling delivered on June 29, 2020 accepted Ndume to stand surety for the defendant, Adedipe said, “There was nothing spectacular. It was due to administrative issues.”

He also confirmed that the defendant’s release was based on Ndume’s suretyship.

“Yes, he was released based on Senator Ndume’s suretyship,” the lawyer added.