Court Orders Temporary Forfeiture Of 23 Assets Linked To Maina

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, ordered the temporary forfeiture of 23 properties that were allegedly traced to former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.
The court, in a ruling that was delivered by Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo, made the order following an ex-parte motion that was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo directed the anti-graft agency to publish the order in a national daily to enable anyone that is interested in any of the temporarily seized assets to show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The EFCC had told the court that the assets it listed in a schedule is attached to the ex-parte motion, were acquired from proceeds of crime.
It told the court that Maina massively looted funds meant for Federal Civil Service Pensioners through “a fraudulent nationwide numeric enrolment exercise of pensioners” which he spearheaded.
The commission alleged that it uncovered the fraud which was perpetrated with names of fake pensioners, at the end of an investigation it conducted in 2010.
Meanwhile, seven operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been arrested in connection with a plot to smuggle former Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) chairman, Abdulrasheed Maina, out of the anti-graft agency’s custody.
They are undergoing investigation along with a woman, Zainab Abbas, to determine their involvement in the plot.
Maina is being detained by the anti-graft agency which is probing him for alleged N2.1billion fraud.
An official of the agency alleged, last Monday, that Zainab Abbas, who visited Maina, coordinated the failed attempt to spirit Maina out of custody.
According to the source, the seven EFCC men were on duty when the plot was to be carried out.
The source added: “Intelligence was received about the plot on October 17.
“That night, one Zainab Abbas was smuggled into the visitors’ area to meet with Maina. She was with her telephone.
“She was alleged to be making efforts to procure some purported military personnel to execute the plan to get Maina out in a commando style.
“It could not be immediately ascertained if Maina was in the picture of what was being planned or if Zainab was contracted by members of pension syndicate to set Maina free.
“Operatives on duty that night were arrested, questioned and detained. They are being investigated for suspected complicity.