A former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, has been released from prison.
Credible sources report that Maina, who was serving an eight-year jail term, had been held at the Kuje Correctional Centre in the Federal Capital Territory.
Although details surrounding his release remain sketchy, reliable sources told Punch that the former pension boss regained his freedom several weeks ago.
Maina was convicted in November 2021 by the Federal High Court on charges bordering on money laundering involving over ₦2bn in pension funds.
He was arraigned in October 2019 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 12-count charge, to which he pleaded not guilty.
In his judgment, Justice Okon Abang held that Maina stole over ₦2bn belonging to pensioners, “most of whom have died without reaping the fruits of their labour.”
The judge further ruled that Maina concealed his identity as a signatory to several bank accounts by using the names of his family members without their knowledge.
Justice Abang found the former PRTT chairman guilty on all 12 counts and sentenced him to a cumulative 61 years in prison, which was ordered to run concurrently. The sentence took effect from October 25, 2019, the date of his arraignment, effectively pegging his jail term at eight years.
Dissatisfied with the verdict, Maina appealed the judgment. However, in May 2023, the Court of Appeal upheld both his conviction and the eight-year sentence.
