The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has again declared Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), wanted over an alleged case of receiving stolen property.
Penpushing reports that Head of Media and Publicity of the agency, Dele Oyewale, made this known in a notice which comes months after Maina, who was previously convicted of money laundering, failed to appear before a court for an ongoing criminal trial.
The commission in the announcement published on its official Facebook page on Wednesday urged anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact any of its offices, the nearest police station or other security agencies.
Penpushing further reports that it would be recalled that 61- year-old ex-convict’s absence in February stalled a trial-within-trial to determine the admissibility of statements he allegedly made to the agency.
The trial judge, Justice Abubakar Kutigi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Asokoro had told Maina’s counsel and threatened to revoke his bail over his repeated absence from court.
“If your client cannot come to court, I will revoke his bail and let them go and get him. The last time he appeared in court was more than three years ago. I am fed up with this case. I’ve been in this profession for over 35 years. I have never seen a case like this’, Kutigi stated
Penpushing also reports that Maina is being prosecuted alongside Ann Igwe Olachi, a civil servant, on a nine-count charge involving the alleged receipt of N738 million in stolen funds. Both defendants pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned in 2019.
The then counsel of Maina, Achibong at the February hearing, sought an adjournment and presented a hospital referral letter, however, the judge rejected the request, pointing out that the document did not indicate that Maina was ill.
Penpushing reports that the Judge said the defence had previously committed to proceeding with the case whether or not Maina was present, adding that the antics have stalled proceedings completely
The judge warned that he was considering revoking Maina’s bail to compel him to face the trial, and was in November 2021 convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja over money laundering offences involving more than N2 billion in pension funds.
Penpushing further reports that Maina had been released from prison on 25 February 2025 after serving part of an eight-year sentence for money laundering, while it would be recalled that he convicted in November 2021 by the Federal High Court in Abuja over money laundering offences involving more than N2 billion in pension funds.
The Court of Appeal upheld his conviction and sentence in May 2023; however, the Nigerian Correctional Service subsequently released him on 25 February 2025 on account of good conduct in prison.
Penpushing also reports that during his previous trial, three of Maina’s siblings, including two sisters and a brother, testified for the prosecution, while his sisters told the court that he used their personal details and utility bills to open bank accounts for his company, Common Input Property and Investment Limited.
The company was equally convicted and ordered to be wound up, however, the trial leading up to his conviction was also marked by a disruption resulting from his act of evading trial.
Penpushing reports that it took the trial judge revoking Maina’s bail, putting his then surety, Ali Ndume, a senator, in prison, and the agency going after him until he was rearrested in Niger Republic, for the trial to resume and proceed to conclusion.
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