EFCC declares ex-pension boss Maina wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, wanted over an alleged case of receiving stolen property.

The EFCC announced the development in a wanted notice published on its official X account on Wednesday and signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.

According to the commission, Maina, 61, is an indigene of Biu in Borno State and is wanted in connection with the alleged offence.

The anti-graft agency appealed to members of the public with information about Maina’s whereabouts to assist in locating him.

“The public is hereby notified that Abdularasheed Abdullahi Maina, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in an alleged case of receiving stolen property,” the commission said.

The agency urged anyone with useful information to contact any of its offices across the country.

Maina’s previous legal troubles

The EFCC listed its offices in Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja as places where information could be provided.

The commission also directed members of the public with relevant information to contact it through its designated telephone line or official email address, [email protected].

It further advised anyone who may have information about Maina’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or other security agencies.

The latest declaration comes against the backdrop of Maina’s long-running legal troubles over allegations relating to pension funds.

Maina had previously been declared wanted by the EFCC after he failed to appear for his trial in a case involving alleged N2bn fraud linked to the pension reform programme.

He was subsequently arrested in Niger Republic in 2019 and returned to Nigeria to face trial.

Conviction and release

In November 2021, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja convicted Maina and sentenced him to eight years in prison for money laundering offences.

Reports on the case said the prosecution had linked him to the handling of funds allegedly derived from unlawful activities.

Maina’s conviction followed a prolonged legal process over allegations connected to his activities while heading the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms.

The case had attracted considerable public attention because of the allegations involving pension funds and Maina’s failure to initially appear before the court.

The Nigerian Correctional Service later disclosed that Maina was released from custody on February 25, 2025, after serving part of his sentence.

The correctional service attributed the release to his good conduct while in custody and said it was carried out in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Fresh allegation

However, the EFCC’s latest wanted notice concerns an alleged case of receiving stolen property, although the commission did not provide further details about the allegation.

The agency did not state the nature or value of the property allegedly involved, when the alleged offence occurred or whether the new case is directly connected to the earlier pension-related proceedings.

The commission’s notice also did not disclose Maina’s current location.

The EFCC is therefore relying on information from members of the public and security agencies to assist in locating him in connection with the latest allegation.

The development adds another chapter to the former pension reform official’s legal history, years after his arrest, trial and conviction over money laundering offences linked to the pension reform programme.