Abdulrasheed Maina is a Nigerian public servant who rose to prominence as the chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) from 2010 to 2013. He was hailed as a hero for recovering billions of naira from pension fraudsters and reforming the pension system in Nigeria. However, he was also accused of embezzling billions of naira from the same pension funds he was supposed to safeguard.
He faced multiple charges of corruption, money laundering, and fraud, and was declared wanted by the Nigerian authorities and the Interpol. He fled the country and went into hiding, until he was arrested and extradited from Niger Republic in 2020. He is currently standing trial alongside his son, Faisal Maina, who is also facing similar charges.
Abdulrasheed Maina Wiki/Bio
| Name | Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1967 |
| Place of birth | Biu, Borno State, Nigeria |
| Ethnicity | Kanuri |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Religion | Islam |
| Education | B.Sc. in Business Administration and M.Sc. in Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri |
| Occupation | Former public servant and chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) |
| Spouse | Laila Maina |
| Children | Faisal Maina (son) and a daughter (name unknown) |
| Siblings | A younger sister and a younger brother, Khalid Aliyu |
| Net worth | Uncertain, but believed to have amassed a fortune from his roles in the public sector |
| Legal issues | Facing charges of corruption, money laundering, and fraud for allegedly diverting billions of naira from pension funds |
| Current status | Sentenced to eight years imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 8, 2021 |
| Links | Instagram- @#abdulrasheedmaina Homepage- Newsunzip |
Early Life, Birthday and Education
Abdulrasheed Maina was born in 1967 (age: 56 years, as of 2023) in Biu, a town in Borno State, Nigeria. He is from the Kanuri ethnic group, which is one of the largest ethnic groups in northeastern Nigeria. He grew up in a modest family, and had a younger sister and a younger brother, Khalid Aliyu.
He attended primary and secondary schools in his hometown, and showed academic excellence and leadership skills. He proceeded to the University of Maiduguri, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1989. He also obtained a master’s degree in Public Administration from the same university in 1992.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 feet 10 inches
- Weight: 196 lbs or 89 kg
- Eye color: Black
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.50 million |
| 2023 | $1.20 million |
Career and Achievements
Abdulrasheed Maina joined the Nigerian public service sector in 1993, as an assistant director in the Ministry of Interior. He rose through the ranks and became a director in the same ministry in 2008. He was responsible for overseeing the payment of pensions to retired civil servants in the ministry.
In 2010, he was appointed as the chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), a special unit created by the then-President Goodluck Jonathan to audit and reform the pension system in Nigeria. The PRTT was mandated to recover looted pension funds, verify pensioners, and streamline the pension payment process.
Under Maina’s leadership, the PRTT claimed to have recovered over 200 billion naira (about $500 million) from pension fraudsters and saved the government over 1.6 trillion naira (about $4 billion) from ghost pensioners and inflated pension bills. The PRTT also introduced biometric verification and electronic payment methods for pensioners and reduced the number of pension offices from 99 to 6.
Maina received commendations and awards from various stakeholders, including the Nigerian Senate, the House of Representatives, the Nigerian Labour Congress, the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was also nominated for the National Honours Award by the then-President Jonathan in 2012.
Allegations and Controversies
However, Maina’s success as the PRTT chairman was also marred by allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and abuse of power. He was accused of diverting billions of naira from the pension funds he recovered and using them for personal and political purposes. He was also alleged to have operated multiple bank accounts, both locally and internationally, and acquired several properties and assets in Nigeria and abroad.
In 2012, the Nigerian Senate launched an investigation into the activities of the PRTT and invited Maina to appear before its committee on public accounts. He refused to honour the invitation and claimed that he was being persecuted by some powerful interests who were unhappy with his pension reforms. He also alleged that he had uncovered a pension fraud syndicate involving some senators and that his life was in danger.
The Senate issued a warrant of arrest for Maina, and asked the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to produce him. The police failed to arrest him and claimed that he was nowhere to be found. The Senate also accused the then Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, of shielding Abdulrasheed from prosecution.
In 2013, Abdulrasheed Maina was sacked from his position as the PRTT chairman and was declared wanted by the EFCC for money laundering and fraud charges. He reportedly fled the country and went into hiding, allegedly with the help of some top government officials.
Extradition and Trial
In 2017, Abdulrasheed Maina resurfaced in Nigeria and was controversially reinstated into the civil service as the acting director of the Human Resources Department in the Ministry of Interior. This sparked outrage and condemnation from various quarters, who questioned how a wanted fugitive could be reabsorbed into the government without facing justice.
The presidency denied any knowledge or involvement in his reinstatement and ordered his immediate dismissal and arrest. Maina, however, went into hiding again and evaded the security agencies.
In 2019, he was arrested by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in a hotel in Abuja, following a tip-off from an informant. He was handed over to the EFCC, which arraigned him before a Federal High Court on a 12-count charge of corruption, money laundering, and operating fictitious bank accounts. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in prison custody.
Maina’s son, Faisal, who was also arrested with him, was arraigned on a separate three-count charge of money laundering, false declaration of assets, and resisting arrest. He also pleaded not guilty and was remanded in prison custody.
His trial has been marred by several twists and turns, such as his frequent absence from court due to ill health, his application for bail, his alleged escape from custody, his rearrest in Niger Republic, his extradition to Nigeria, his change of legal representation, and his plea for mercy.
His case is still ongoing and has not reached a conclusion. He is currently facing multiple charges in different courts, both in Nigeria and abroad. He is also being investigated by the United States Department of Justice for his alleged involvement in a $2 million money laundering scheme.
Spouse, Son
Abdulrasheed Maina is married to Laila Maina, and they have two children, a son and a daughter. His son, Faisal Maina, is also facing money laundering and fraud charges and is currently in police custody. His daughter’s name and whereabouts are unknown.
Maina’s younger brother, Khalid Aliyu, is also a public servant and was the secretary-general of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a prominent socio-cultural group in northern Nigeria. He resigned from his position in 2019, following the allegations against his brother.
Abdulrasheed Maina is a Nigerian public servant who was once celebrated as a pension reformer, but later became notorious as a pension looter. He is currently facing trial for corruption, money laundering, and fraud, and is seeking bail on health grounds. His story is a classic example of the rise and fall of a public official, and the challenges of fighting corruption in Nigeria.
