Updated – Pension scam: At last, police effect Maina’s extradition

Former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, has been extradited to Nigeria after his arrest in Niger Republic.

Maina was arrested in Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic after he allegedly jumped bail and was declared wanted by a court of competent jurisdiction over a pending criminal trial.

On arrival on Thursday, the NPF Jet 5N-HAR that conveyed him reportedly landed at 1417Hrs (Nigerian Time) and he was received by men of the Nigeria Police Force at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The ex-Pension boss, who was brought back to Nigeria on the directive of IGP Mohammed Adamu, had already been declared a fugitive by the Police authority.

With this development, Maina will now face his ongoing money laundering trial, a proceeding which is already ongoing in absentia.

Maina it would be recalled was standing trial before Justice Okon Abang of the federal high court in Abuja for alleged N2billion money laundering perpetuated by him while in office.

He is facing a 12-count money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The court also alleged him of using his firm to acquire properties in Abuja.

The trial justice Abang issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for a fifth consecutive time.

Abang then ordered Senator Ali Ndume to produce Maina, threatening that his failure could have consequences.

The court also threatened that the suretee would pay N500 million bail bond.

But because he was unable to produce Maina as ordered by the court, the judge swooped on Ndume and sent him to Kuje Prison.

Although he was later granted bail after filing an application to that effect, the embattled lawmaker spent one week at the Kuje Correctional facility before he was released by the judge.

While granting Ndume bail, Justice Abang said he took the action based on Ndume’s record of good behavior before the court.

Led by Commissioner of Police INTERPOL, CP Garba Umar, Maina this medium recall was arrested on the 30th November through the collaborative efforts of the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL NCB, Abuja and their Nigerien counterpart.

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