The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday
arraigned Abdulrasheed Maina on another charge of contract
racketeering and stealing before Justice Abubakar Kutigi of the
Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The embattled former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team was
docked on a nine-count charge alongside one Ann Olachi, who was his
secretary.
Maina is alleged to have abused his position as chairman of the
Pension Reform Task Team to award fictitious contracts for purported
biometric enrollment of pensioners, an offense that is punishable
under Section 317(read in conjunction with section 316) of the Penal
Code Act, Cap532, vol. 4, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of
Nigeria, 2007.
Facts of the case indicate that “bogus” claims of fictitious
allowances were also made by Mr Maina and his cohorts in the course of
the purported biometric enrolment assignment, while the proceeds of
the fictitious contracts were remitted into his account through the
2nd defendant.
When the matter was called today, prosecuting counsel M.S Abubakar
informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment and
applied that charges be read to the defendants to take their pleas.
When the charges were read, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
One of the counts read, “That you ABDULRASHEED ABDULAHI MAINA and IGWE
ANN OLACHI between December 2010 and January 2011 in Abuja, within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly received an
aggregate sum of N136,200,000 (One Hundred and Thirty Six Million, Two
Hundred Thousand Naira Only) from one Ibrahim Abdulkarim knowing that
the said money was stolen from the Federal Government of Nigeria under
the guise of payment of allowances”.
Another charge reads, “That you ABDULRASHEED ABDULAHI MAINA and IGWE
ANN OLACHI between July and December 2010 in Abuja within the
jurisdiction of this honorable court dishonestly received an aggregate
sum of N153,146,719,.99 ( one hundred and fifty three million, one
hundred and forty six thousand, seven hundred and nineteen Naira,
ninety nine kobo) from Xangee Technologies Limited (which company is
facing separate charge before Federal High Court) knowing that the
said money was stolen from the Federal Government of Nigeria under the
guise of contract for biometric enrolment of pensioners.”
Another count reads, That you ABDULRASHEED ABDULAHI MAINA on or about
the 8th July 2010 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honorable
court dishonestly received N107,398,500 (one hundred and seven
million, three hundred and ninety eight thousand, five hundred Naira)
from Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited through one Osarenkhoe
Afe (both of whom are facing a separate charge at the Federal High
Court) knowing the said money was stolen from the Federal Government
of Nigeria under the guise of contract for biometric enrolment.”
The case has been adjourned till November 28, 2019, for ruling on bail
application.
