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TIMELINE: Ex-Pensions Boss, Maina's Long Walk To Prison Since Corruption Charges In 2012

November 8, 2021

He was sentenced to 61 years in prison by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for money laundering.

On Monday, the embattled former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, was finally convicted over fraud charges pressed against him.
He was sentenced to 61 years in prison by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for money laundering.

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Delivering the judgment on Monday, Okon Abang, trial judge, held that Maina stole over N2 billion belonging to pensioners, “most of whom have died without reaping the fruits of their labour”.
The judge found him guilty on all 12 counts and sentenced him to eight years imprisonment.
SaharaReporters examines the journey of the former PRTT chairman from his appointment in 2010 to his latest sentencing.
•2010 - Maina was appointed Chairman of the Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms (PRTT).
•2012 - He was accused of corruption
•2013 - He was sacked from the federal civil service amid the corruption allegations
•2015 - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pressed charges of corruption to the tune of N2billion against him and his accomplices.
•2015 - He fled Nigeria before the trial prompting the issuance of an arrest warrant against him, and his listing on INTERPOL’s Red Notice.
•2017 - Maina was recalled to the civil service and named as acting director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Interior.
•October 23, 2017 - He was dismissed from the civil service again by President Muhammadu Buhari.
•October 25, 2019 - Maina was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 12 counts for alleged money laundering and theft of pension funds running into N2 billion.
•November 26, 2019 -- the court granted bail to Maina in the sum of N1 billion, and ordered him to produce two sureties who must be serving senators.
The two sureties, according to the court must be prepared for N500 million bond each, and must always be in court with the defendant at each adjourned date of the trial.
He complained that the bail condition was "stringent, excessive and impracticable" and subsequently applied for variation.
•January 28, 2020 -- Justice Abang exercised discretion of the court judicially and judiciously reduced Maina's bail conditions to N500 million with a serving Senator as surety.
• November 18, 2020 -- Due to prolonged absence in court, Justice Abang revoked Maina's bail, and consequently ordered his rearrest anywhere within and outside Nigeria.
•November 23, 2020 -- The court ordered that Maina's surety, Senator Ali Ndume should be remanded in prison following his failure to produce the defendant in court to continue his trial.
•December 3, 2020 -- Maina was arrested in Niger Republic where he had taken refuge and was extradited to Nigeria.
•December 12, 2020 -- Maina collapsed while sitting beside the defendant’s dock during a court sitting.
•November 8, 2021 -- Maina was convicted and sentenced to 61 years in prison.