The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina to a total of 61years in prisonment for defrauding the federal government the sum of N2.1bn.
Justice Okon Abang found Maina guilty on all the 12 count charged filed on October 26 2019 against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and sentenced him accordingly.
The judge sentenced him on Count 1, to 8 years imprisonment, Count 2,to 5 yearsimprisonment, count 3 to 8 years imprisonment, count 4 to 8 years imprisonment, on count 5 to 3 years imprisonment and count 6 to 5 years imprisonment.
Maina was also convicted on counts 7, 8,9,10,11and 12 to 8years,3years, 5 years,8 years, 3 years and 3years respectively with effect from October 26,2019.
The sentences are to run concurrently which implied that Maina would spend only 8 years in jail from October 26 2019.He automatically have just only five years left to spend in jail.
The judge found the former PRTT chairman guilty of concealing his true identity as a signatory to five accounts opened in two banks – UBA and Fidelity bank – by using the identity of his family members without their knowledge.
The accounts had cash deposits of N300 million, N500 million, and N1.5 billion.
He said throughout Maina’s service as a civil servant, his salary and emoluments could not amount to the monies in these accounts.
The court therefore ordered the forfeiture of Maina’s three landed properties in Abuja and his bullet prove jeeps and cars.They are to be auctioned and the proceeds pay into the federal government account.
His company the ‘ Common Input and Property Investment’ was ordered to refund the sum N1.8bn and $537,983 dollars within 90 days to the federal government. The judge also order the winding up of the company.
Justice Abang regretted that UBA and Fidelity banks which aided Maina in defrauding the federal government were not joined in the charge. He said their operating licenses ought to be seized for allowing themselves to be used to defraud the pensioners “most of whom have died without reaping the fruits of their labour”.
Maina who was remorseful after the judge convicted him, apologized for all his misdeeds and begged for mercy .
There was a commotion at the premises of federal high court in Abuja on Monday after the sentencing of Abdulrasheed Maina, a former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).
After the verdict and sentencing operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) clashed with officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) had an altercation while attempting to take custody of Maina.
After the sentencing, prison officials, who brought the convict to court and were already on standby in the courtroom and within the court premises, led Maina out.
However, confusion started when EFCC operatives insisted that Maina must go in their vehicle. But reason later prevailed as the had ordered that Correctional Center should provide the convict with treatment or take him to hospital under tight security.
The EFCC had arraigned Maina on a 12-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N2.1billion.