The Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday sentenced a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, to eight years imprisonment.
Justice Okon Abang convicted him and his firm, Common Input Property and Investment and Investment Ltd, on a 12-count charge of money laundering.
In a judgment that lasted about four hours, the judge held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) established its case against Maina.
Justice Abang added that the prosecution established that Maina stole over N2billion from pension funds meant for retirees, “most of whom have died without reaping the fruits of their labour”.
The judge also found Maina guilty of purchasing a property in Abuja for which he paid with $1.4 million cash, above the statutory threshold of N5million and without passing through a financial institution, describing it as a criminal offence.
Justice Abang found Maina guilty of concealing his true identity as a signatory to accounts opened in UBA and Fidelity Bank by using the identity of his family members without their knowledge.
These accounts had cash deposits of N300 million, N500 million and N1.5billion, which the judge found that Maina stole from pensioners because he could not prove where he got said funds from.
The judge noted that throughout Maina’s service as a civil servant, his salary and emoluments could not have amounted to the monies in the accounts.
He noted that the prosecution produced essential evidence through witnesses to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Maina is also guilty of money laundering to the tune of N171,099,000.
The judge said the amount formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.
“Judgment is hereby entered in favour of the prosecution and the defendant is accordingly convicted.
“I find the first defendant guilty and convicted on counts 2, 6, 9, 3, 7 and 10,” the judge said.
He sentenced Maina to various terms of imprisonment for each count, with the highest being eight.
He said the sentence would run concurrently, with effect from October 25, 2019, which was the day the defendants were arraigned.
Justice Abang ordered the winding up of the firm and further directed that Maina and his firm forfeit to the Federal Government about N2.1billion traced to their bank accounts, and another $223,396.30.
He added that the forfeited funds should be paid to Federal Government within 90 days.
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Justice Abang ordered the forfeiture of Maina’s two choice properties at Life Camp and Jabi districts of Abuja and directed that a bulletproof car and a BMW 5 Series exotic car found in his premises be auctioned.
The judge noted that though the law provided for a maximum sentence of 14 years for the offence, he was moved by Maina’s plea for mercy.
Pleading for Maina, his lawyer, Olusegun Jolawon (SAN), said: “I beg my lord to give the defendant a second chance by not bringing down the full weight of the law.
“The defendant obviously made some mistakes and he is very remorseful about them. He is the breadwinner of both his nuclear and extended family.
“Moreover, there is documentary evidence that he is seriously sick. Nobody is immune to illness.”
Maina, who was allowed by the court to speak, said: “My lord, I want to apologise for anything I may have done, with or without my intention. It was all adduced to me.
“I was never opportuned to be in the witness box. If not, you would have heard a lot of things,” he said, adding he has three different tumours in his body and would need to undergo a medical operation urgently.
After listening to Maina and his lawyer, the judge said: “The facts of this case portray the moral decadence of the society we live in, having considered the monumental fraud about how pensioners’ funds were stolen.
“It is a clear case that the convict is inhuman, heartless and had no compassion for the pensioners. Some of them have suffered; others have died while waiting to get their reward on earth whereas the convict was feeding fat from their sweat in faraway Dubai, buying properties, driving bulletproof cars that were beyond his legitimate earnings.
“Abnormal situation requires drastic action to send a message to those that believe in dishonesty, to have a rethink”, he added.
The judge, who frowned at the conduct of the two banks used by Maina in committing the crime, said the Federal Government ought to have withdrawn their operating licenses.
Prison officials and operatives of the EFCC clashed while Maina was being led into a waiting van of the Correctional Service.
The armed EFCC officials, who came in the company of armed mobile policemen, attempted to seize Maina from the grip of the prison officials.
They later blocked the vehicles of the prison officials, resulting in a standoff that lasted about 30 minutes.
Upon the intervention of some senior officials, the EFCC team backed down and allowed the prison vehicles, one of which was conveying Maina, to exit the court premises.
A source said the EFCC operatives had come to rearrest Maina over another charge.
“They said they have a warrant to rearrest him after he was just convicted.
“Our stand is that the court just convicted him and if they need to rearrest him, they should come through the court.
“The court will give the directive for us to obey,” the source said.
Another case involving Maina is pending before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
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