N2.1bn fraud: Appeal Court upholds Maina’s 8-year jail term

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has upheld the eight-year jail term imposed on the former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for money laundering to the tune of N2.1 billion.

A three-member panel of the Appeal Court, in a unanimous judgement on Friday, May 5,  affirmed the November 8, 2021 judgement by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which convicted and sentenced Maina.

Justice Elfreda Williams-Daudu, who delivered the lead judgement, resolved the two issues identified for determination against Maina and held that he was not denied fair hearing by the trial court.

Justice Williams-Daudu added that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

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It would be recalled that Justice Abang on November 8, 2021, found Maina guilty of money laundering, concealing his true identity as a signatory to accounts opened in two banks – UBA and Fidelity Bank – using the identity of his family members without their knowledge.

The accounts had cash deposits of N300 million, N500 million, and N1.5 billion

Justice Abang also held that through Maina’s service as a civil servant, his salary and emoluments could not have amounted to the monies in the said accounts.

The Star