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Security sources have revealed that Faisal Maina, son of former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who has been on the run since 2020, has been trailed and apprehended by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, in the Karsana area of Abuja.
According to Chennels Television report, a source revealed that his arrest followed credible intelligence.
“His arrest followed credible intelligence which indicated that Faisal had secretly returned to the country,” the source said.
The Beginning: How Faisal Maina Case Started
The Street Reporters Newspaper recalled that the history of Faisal Maina’s case is intertwined with the larger pension fraud scandal that rocked Nigeria between 2012 and 2020, involving his father, Abdulrasheed Maina.
Abdulrasheed Maina, as Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, was accused of laundering over N2 billion pension funds. He was dismissed from service in 2013, declared wanted by EFCC, and fled the country.
In 2019, following Maina’s reappearance and rearrest, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, extended its investigation to his son, Faisal Maina, over allegations that he operated fictitious bank accounts used to launder funds siphoned from pension coffers.
Faisal was subsequently arrested and prosecuted by EFCC on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering and conspiracy, specifically for operating an account with Alhaji Faisal Abdullahi in United Bank for Africa, UBA, through which he allegedly laundered N58.1 million.
Bail, Escape And Trial In Absentia
In November 2019, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, granted Faisal bail in the sum of N60 million with a surety in like sum who must be a member of House of Representatives. Hon. Sani Umar Dan-Galadima representing Kaura-Namoda Federal Constituency stood surety.
In 2020, Faisal violated his bail conditions and escaped the country. His father also jumped bail in September 2020 and fled to Niger Republic before he was rearrested through Interpol.
Following Faisal’s escape, Justice Abang ordered trial to continue in his absence. He also ordered the arrest of his surety, Rep. Dan-Galadima, and ordered forfeiture of Faisal’s father’s property in Jabi, Abuja, used as bail bond.
On October 7, 2021, Justice Okon Abang found Faisal guilty on all three counts, convicted and sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment with an option of fine, to run concurrently.
The Court had ordered that Faisal be arrested wherever he was found in Nigeria and remanded in a correctional centre to serve his sentence. It further directed that, if found outside the country, the Federal Government should take lawful steps to secure his extradition to serve his prison term.
Arrest In Karsana Ends 5-Year Manhunt
Five years after jumping bail, the DSS acting on credible intelligence tracked Faisal to Karsana, a fast-developing suburb in Abuja Municipal Area Council, and arrested him after he secretly returned to the country.
“The handover of Faisal to the EFCC is expected to facilitate the enforcement of the Court’s judgment and ensure that he serves his sentence in accordance with the law,” a security source declared.
With his arrest, Faisal is expected to be handed over to EFCC and subsequently remanded in a correctional facility to commence his 14-year jail term as ordered by Federal High Court.
His father, Abdulrasheed Maina, was on November 8, 2021, also sentenced by Justice Abang to 8 years imprisonment for money laundering N2.1 billion pension funds and is currently serving his term at Kuje Correctional Centre after his sentence was upheld by Court of Appeal.
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