Pensioners on Monday cheered the conviction of the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina.
While thanking the judiciary for slamming the right punishment on Maina, they called for speedy dispensation of justice to discourage those interested in short-changing the weak in the society.
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja convicted and sentenced Maina to 61 years in prison for offences bordering on money laundering.
The judge sentenced the ex-pension boss to three years in count one, five years in count two, eight years in count three, eight years in count four, two years in count five, five years in count six, and eight years in count seven.
Justice Abang, who also sentenced Maina to three years in count eight, five years in count nine, eight years in count 10, three years in count 11 and three years in count 12, ordered that the terms of imprisonment shall run concurrently beginning from October 25, 2019, when Maina was arraigned before the court.
This means he will be in prison for eigh years.
The judge, in passing the sentence, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had proven the essential ingredients of the charges preferred against Maina beyond reasonable doubt.
He ordered Maina and the second defendant, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd., to refund the sum of N2.409bn to the federal government.
The breakdown of the funds to be refunded, according to the court, includes N183.568 million, N91, 616,933.56 (being naira equivalent of $223,396). The court also directed the defendants to refund another N314.481million and N1.82 billion.
All payments, according to the judge, should be done within 90 days.
Abang also ordered for forfeiture of Maina’s two houses said to be acquired with proceeds of the crime. They are situated in Jabi and Life Camp, Abuja. Two vehicles, including a bulletproof SUV and a BMW 5 series were also ordered to be sold and the proceeds forfeited to the federal government.
He said the judgment was intended to “Send a message to those who are in the act to have a rethink,” but added that he could not impose the maximum sentence of 14 years allowed for the offence in view of the plea by Maina and his lawyer.
Maina’s lawyer, Olusegun Jolaawo, SAN, told the court that his client was “obviously remorseful” as he begged the court to temper justice with mercy in passing its judgment.
He acknowledged that Maina had “Made some bad decisions for which the court has adjudged him guilty. But as a human being, he is not infallible and none of us is.
“For this, we urge you to give him a second chance by not bringing the full weight of the law down on him.”
The lawyer said Maina is the breadwinner of his large family and is battling serious illnesses.
Maina had jumped bail and fled to the Republic of Niger where he hid for some months last year.
While he was on the run, Justice Abang revoked the bail earlier granted him and put his surety, Senator Ali Ndume, behind bars for some days before releasing him on bail.
With the help of the arrest warrant issued by the judge, security agencies apprehended Maina in the Niger Republic and brought him back to court on December 4. He was immediately remanded in prison till the end of his trial.
