Abdulrasheed Maina, the former head of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms who was convicted for embezzling more than ₦2 billion in pension funds, has reappeared in public after years out of the spotlight. On Thursday, he was presented with an award by the Garki Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja.
Maina, who was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2021, used the platform to demand a fresh probe into the activities of a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, alleging that further recovery of public funds could be achieved through a thorough investigation.
The former pension reform chief was honoured with the Rule of Law and Courage Award during a ceremony held along Jimmy Carter Street in Asokoro, Abuja. He attended the event wearing a scarf emblazoned with the title, “Patron, NBA Garki Branch.”
While addressing participants, Maina accused Malami—currently standing trial over alleged money laundering alongside his wife and son—of not being properly investigated. He claimed that several questionable actions occurred during the previous administration and maintained that such developments would not happen under the present government.
Malami and his family members are facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial crimes. They were first detained at the Kuje Correctional Centre before securing bail, although Malami was later rearrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Despite his conviction, Maina insisted at the event that he was innocent, alleging that influential figures within the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari engineered his legal troubles. He claimed he was transported abroad on a government aircraft for medical care after initially jumping bail, only to later be apprehended in the Niger Republic and accused of evading justice.
Background of Maina’s Conviction
Maina was appointed in 2010 by the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan to spearhead pension reforms, including the biometric verification of pensioners nationwide.
Investigations by the EFCC revealed that he laundered billions of naira through fictitious contracts, fake bank accounts, and proxy firms, including Common Input Property and Investment Limited, which was jointly convicted and subsequently ordered to be liquidated.
During the trial, three of his siblings testified against him, explaining how their identities were allegedly exploited to open accounts used in executing the fraudulent transactions.
In November 2021, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sentenced Maina to eight years in prison for laundering ₦2 billion in pension funds. The judge described his actions as callous, noting that many pensioners died while awaiting their benefits.
The Court of Appeal later upheld the conviction, while Maina’s son, Faisal, received a 14-year prison sentence in a related matter.
In 2024, the court ordered the permanent forfeiture of 23 properties linked to Maina to the Federal Government.
Although the exact date of his release remains unclear, a close associate disclosed that Maina quietly completed his sentence and regained freedom in February 2025, following correctional service calculations.
Thursday’s appearance marked one of his earliest public engagements since his release.
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