Abdulrasheed Maina ‘arrested’ in Abuja

The Department of State Security DSS
have arrested Abdulrasheed Maina,
former chairman of the Pension Reform
Task Team (PRTT).

The Nation reports that Maina was
arrested at a hotel in Abuja after he
allegedly sneaked into the country
from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A
source was quoted as saying the DSS
might hand him over to the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) for trial over his involvement in
pension fraud.
“Following inter-agency collaboration,
intelligence report indicated that Maina
had sneaked into the country from
Dubai. He was trailed to an Abuja hotel
where he was arrested after operatives
outwitted those who tried to ferry him
away in a bullet-proof vehicle. He is
currently being quizzed. He is likely to
be handed over to the EFCC for trial.
He has a pending case since 2015.” the
source said
Recall that the Federal civil service
commission had dismissed Maina in
2013 for absconding from duty
following a recommendation by the
office of the head of service. He was
accused of being involved in pension
fraud running into over N100 billion.
After an investigation by the senate
joint committee on public service
establishment, a warrant of arrest was
issued against him.
Subsequently, the police declared him
wanted and he went into hiding.
However, in 2017, he returned to the
country under controversial
circumstances and was reinstated as a
director in the ministry of interior.

Maina, who was embroiled in N2.1 billion
pension scam was arrested through a joint
effort by the EFCC and DSS, sources said.
According to the source, Maina was arrested in
a hotel in Abuja as he attempted escaping by
shooting at the DSS operatives detailed to
arrest him.
The source said, “He hid in a bulletproof car
for several hours before he was forced out by
the operatives.
“On the request of the EFCC, the DSS has been
monitoring his movement for days before now.”
It was gathered that one Zainab Buratai, a
woman who claimed to be a businesswoman
and philanthropist in Abuja, by her Twitter
handle but no established direct connection
with the Chief of Army Staff, said Maina has
been using her influence in the police force, to
terrorize his extended family. Mainz had
ordered one of her nephew, Sadiq to arrested.
Sadiq was beaten to comma on the allegation
of stealing $1.7m belonging to Maina.
Whereas Maina’s biological son has admitted
stealing the father’s money and Maina’s son
Laila confirmed taken possession of the
unspent stolen fund from the son.
Maina’s younger brother, Khalid, was also
arrested and detained by officers of the IG
special team under Abba Kyari.
It took the intervention of senior police officers
to secure the release of Khalid last weekend.

Personnel of the anti-graft agency have
arrested several agents, couriers, informant and
subordinates of Maina the last 2 months and
several properties are hidden under several
proxies and concubine seized from the fugitive.
As at the time of this report, the DSS is still
profiling Maina and possibly would hand him
offer to the EFCC later today or sometime
soon. His possession of a firearm, among
others, is to be investigated by the DSS.
Maina is being aided by top government
officials led by Attorney General of the
Federation, Abubakar Malami, to evade trial and
prosecution following his embezzlement of
N2.1billion pension fund.
Maina in January 2019, secured a court order
stopping the EFCC from declaring him wanted.
Justice Giwa Ogunbanjo of the Federal High
Court described the action of the anti-graft
agency in declaring Maina wanted as unlawful.
A non-governmental organisation, Centre for
Law and Civil Culture, has approached the
Federal High Court in Lagos to compel the AGF
to account for the assets recovered from
Maina.
The suit marked FHC/L/CS/756/2019 has the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
as the second respondent.
The group is seeking a mandamus order to
compel the AGF and the EFCC to provide it
with information on the 270 landed properties,
exotic cars, money and other valuables
allegedly recovered from Maina.
The group said its suit followed the alleged
refusal of the EFCC to oblige its request for
information via a December 28, 2018 letter.