Report: ‘Fugitive’ Maina arrested in Abuja

Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), has been arrested.

According to The Nation, Maina was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at a hotel in Abuja after he allegedly sneaked into the country from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

A source was quoted as saying the DSS might hand him over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for trial over his involvement in a pension fraud.

“Following inter-agency collaboration, intelligence report indicated that Maina had sneaked into the country from Dubai, ” the source was quoted to have said.

“He was trailed to an Abuja hotel where he was arrested after operatives outwitted those who tried to ferry him away in a bullet-proof vehicle.

“He is currently being quizzed. He is likely to be handed over to the EFCC for trial. He has a pending case since 2015.”

The federal civil service commission had dismissed Maina in 2013 for absconding from duty following recommendation by the office of the head of service.

He was accused of being involved in pension fraud running into over N100 billion. After an investigation by the senate joint committee on public service establishment, a warrant of arrest was issued against him.

Subsequently, the police declared him wanted and he went into hiding.

However, in 2017, he returned to the country under controversial circumstances and was reinstated as a director in the ministry of interior.

But President Muhammadu Buhari ordered his dismissal and demanded a probe into his recall.