There was a mild drama at the Federal High Court premises between the officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service and an unidentified security agency shortly after Abdulrasheed Maina was sentenced to eight years in prison for pension fraud.
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sentenced the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina in Abuja after finding him guilty of money laundering charges preferred against him by the EFCC.
Delivering the judgment filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Justice Okon Abang held that the prosecution produced essential evidence through witnesses called to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty as charged.
The trial judge also held that Maina stole over N2 billion belonging to Pensioners whom he said died without reaping the fruits of their labour. Justice Abang however, ordered Maina to forfeit two of his houses in Abuja and over one billion naira to the federal government.
Speaking after the conviction, Maina’s lawyer Olusegun Jolaawo confirmed that his client will appeal against the court verdict. EFCC arraigned Maina alongside his son, Faisal before Abang, on October 25, 2019 for money laundering charges. A month ago, the court jailed Maina’s son after finding him guilty on all three counts involving N58.1million.
Attempt by a bunch of security operatives who concealed their identity to whisk Maina away was foiled by the personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
