Former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, who is under persecution for money laundering charges and was kept in detention since November 2019, has been released from prison.

A senior lawyer in his defence team, Ademola Adedipe, according to the Punch newspaper, confirmed this on Tuesday.

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 around 6pm on Monday. We are happy that he has 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 told our correspondent.

Asked why it took about a month after the judge had accepted Ndume to stand surety for him, Adedipe said, “There was nothing spectacular. It was due to administrative issues.”

Among others, Maina was accused of using fictitious names to open and operate various bank accounts into which he allegedly channelled pension funds.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges with his trial adjourned till September 29.