The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, 25th October 2019 ordered the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to remand Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, Pension Reform Task Team, in the Nigerian Correctional Service’s centre pending the determination of the case.
In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang also adjourned the matter till Oct. 30, 2019, for the commencement of trial.
Aside from Maina, his son Faisal, is also being arraigned in the same court on separate but similar charges.
Faisal’s case is yet to be called at the time of sending this report.
Recall that the anti-graft agency is arraigning the former pension task team chairman on a 12-count charge bordering on “money laundering, operating fictitious bank accounts and fraud, among others.”
The development is coming after justice Folashade Ogunbanjo of Federal High Court Lagos, ordered for the temporary forfeiture of 23 properties linked to Maina.
More so, Maina is being accused of involvement in pension fraud running into over N100 billion.
Also, the Federal Civil Service Commission(FCSC) dismissed him in 2013 for “absconding from duty” but he returned to the country in 2017 and was subsequently reinstated as a director in the Ministry of the interior.
However, following outrage by members of the public, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered his dismissal and demanded a probe of the recall process.