Again, EFCC Launches Manhunt For Fleeing Ex-Pension Reform Chairman Maina
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has once more launched a manhunt for former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, over an alleged case of receiving stolen property.
This would not be the first time Maina has fled from prosecution.
In 2020, he failed to appear in court while the trial was ongoing, leading Justice Okon Abang to order his arrest after his bail was revoked.
Subsequently, he was arrested in the Republic of Niger and returned to Nigeria in December 2020 to face the proceedings.
The commission issued the “WANTED” notice in a declaration signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday, asking members of the public with information about Maina’s whereabouts to contact the EFCC or other security agencies. According to the notice, Maina, 61, is an indigene of Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
The EFCC stated, “ABDULRASHEED ABDULLAHI MAINA IS WANTED BY THE EFCC,” identifying the alleged offence as “Receiving Stolen Properties.”
The commission urged anyone with useful information that could assist in locating Maina to contact any of its offices in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Gombe and Port Harcourt.
It also appealed to members of the public to provide information to the nearest police station or other security agencies.
The latest declaration comes against the backdrop of Maina’s long-running legal battles with the anti-graft agency over allegations of pension fraud, money laundering and other financial offences.
Maina was first arraigned by the EFCC in October 2019 along with his company, Common Input Property and Investment Limited, on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering involving funds allegedly traced to pension-related activities.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and remained on trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In November 2021, Justice Abang convicted Maina on multiple counts of money laundering and sentenced him to eight years imprisonment. The court also ordered him to refund N314 million to the Federal Government.
The conviction was later upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2023. Maina was eventually released from the Kuje Correctional Centre in February 2025 after serving part of his sentence.
The Nigerian Correctional Service said his release followed his good conduct in prison and was in accordance with applicable rules.
Maina is also facing a separate case before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Asokoro, Abuja, where the EFCC is prosecuting him alongside Ann Igwe Olachi on a nine-count charge involving alleged receipt of stolen funds totalling N738,612,019.99.
In February 2026, Justice Abubakar Kutigi expressed frustration over delays in the proceedings and demanded that Maina appear in court to defend himself against the allegations.
The court had also considered revoking his bail after noting that he had not appeared in court for an extended period.
The defence, however, gave an undertaking that the trial would proceed whether or not Maina was physically present.
