EFCC declares ex-con Maina wanted again

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Abdulrasheed Maina, a former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), wanted. This is over an alleged case of receiving stolen property.

The EFCC shared this notice on its official Facebook page on Wednesday. Dele Oyewale, the Head of Media and Publicity, signed the announcement.

The commission is asking anyone who knows where Maina is to contact any of its offices, the nearest police station, or other security agencies.

This wanted notice comes months after Maina, who is 61 years old, did not show up at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. He is facing trial for allegedly receiving stolen funds.

In February, PREMIUM TIMES reported that his absence stopped a trial-within-trial meant to decide if statements he made to the EFCC could be used against him. Justice Abubakar Kutigi of the FCT High Court in Asokoro had even warned that he might revoke Maina’s bail due to his repeated court absences.

“If your client cannot come to court, I will revoke his bail and let them go and get him,” the judge said. “The last time he appeared in court was more than three years ago. I am fed up with this case. I’ve been in this profession for over 35 years. I have never seen a case like this.”

Maina is facing prosecution along with Ann Igwe Olachi, a civil servant. They are charged with receiving N738 million in stolen funds. Both of them pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned in 2019.

During the February hearing, Maina’s then-lawyer, Achibong, asked for an adjournment. He presented a hospital referral letter to the court. The judge rejected this, saying the document did not show that Maina was sick.

Judge Kutigi pointed out that the defence had previously agreed to continue the case whether Maina was there or not. “The antics have stalled proceedings completely,” the judge stated. He warned that he was thinking about revoking Maina’s bail to make him face the trial.

Maina was released from prison on February 25, 2025, after serving part of an eight-year sentence for money laundering. He was convicted in November 2021 by the Federal High Court in Abuja for money laundering involving over N2 billion in pension funds.

In May 2023, the Court of Appeal upheld his conviction and sentence. The Nigerian Correctional Service released him on February 25, 2025, due to good conduct while in prison.

During his earlier trial, three of Maina’s siblings, including two sisters and a brother, testified against him. His sisters told the court that he used their personal details and utility bills to open bank accounts for his company, Common Input Property and Investment Limited. This company was also found guilty and ordered to close down.

The trial that led to his conviction faced many disruptions due to his attempts to evade justice. The trial judge had to revoke Maina’s bail, which put his surety, Ali Ndume, a senator, in prison. The EFCC searched for him until he was rearrested in Nigeria Republic, allowing the trial to continue.

In January, a cross-border investigation by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that Maina allegedly bought properties worth over $1.3 million in the United States and Dubai from 2010 to 2013. This was during the time when the Nigerian government accused him of stealing millions from pension funds.