Maina bags eight years imprisonment

By Samantha Allen

Published: November 8, 2021 | 10:19 PM GMT

Abdulrasheed Maina, the former head of the now-defunct Pension Reforms Task Team, was sentenced to eight years in jail for money laundering by Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday. Justice Abang found him guilty of influencing bank employees to open bank accounts for him without undertaking due diligence and money laundering this afternoon.

Justice Abang also found him guilty of exploiting the identities of his family members without their knowledge to disguise his genuine identity as a signatory to accounts opened in two banks.

These accounts were said to have cash deposits of N300 million, N500 million and N1.5 billion.

The court held that Maina stole monies meant for pensioners as he could not prove where he got same from. Justice Abang also held that through Maina’s service as a civil servant, his salary and emoluments would not amount to the monies in these accounts.

The court further held that the prosecution (the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission), produced essential evidence through witnesses called, to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Maina was also guilty of money laundering in sum of N171,099,000.

The court ordered Maina and his firm to restitute about N2.1billion that was traced to their bank accounts, to the Federal Government, after which it ordered that the company should be wound up.

Besides, it ordered the forfeiture of Maina’s two choice properties at Lifecamp and Jabi districts of Abuja, to the government, as well as the auction of a bulletproof car and a BMW 5 series car that was found in premises of the convict. In 2019, Maina was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) — but he pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.

About Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.