N2bn Fraud: Maina, Son Remanded In Custody

• N2bn Fraud: Maina, Son Remanded In Custody

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that the former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina be remanded in Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).

Justice Okon Abang gave the order following a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday after Maina was arraigned with his son, Faisal in the same court, on different but similar charges.

While Maina was docked on a 12-count charge, bordering on operating fictitious bank accounts, fraud and money laundering, his son was slammed with three-counts of money laundering, corruption and lack of full disclosure of asset.

The judge adjourned Maina’s case till October 30 for trial and November 19 for the suitability of his application for bail filed before arraignment.

Justice Abang, however, ordered prison authorities to ensure Maina is given access to his lawyers, as he prepares for his defence.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had, on 30 September 2019, arrested Maina and his son at an Abuja hotel and subsequently handed them over to the EFCC on 2nd of October, for further investigation and prosecution on allegations of fraud and money laundering to the tune of N2.1 billion.

The Federal Civil Service Commission dismissed him in 2013 for “absconding from duty” but he returned to the country in 2017 and was reinstated as a director in the interior ministry.

Maina’s son, Faisal was also remanded in the custody of Police Special Tactical Squad, Asokoro, Abuja.

The prosecution alleged that Faisal had sometimes between 2013 and 2019, received the sum of N58.11 million, proceeding of a corrupt act by his father.

Justice Abang adjourned his case till November 6 for trial.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has been authorised to take over 23 properties linked to Maina pending the completion of its investigations.

The affected properties are located in Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja; Kaduna, Sokoto, and Borno states, which include houses, estates, companies, among others.