Maina: Group Drags AGF, EFCC To Court Over Seized Assets

The problem facing the former chairman of the defunct Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform, Abdulrashid Maina has escalated in the last few days.

So is the Ibrahim Magu-led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which has been under trenchant criticism for failure to make public the multi-billion naira properties recovered from the pension task team boss.

The magazine learned that Maina who has been embroiled in N2.1 billion pension scam, was arrested by the joint effort of the police and other security agencies detailed to the hotel where he has been hiding.

Few days ago, a high court in Lagos granted the request of the registered trustees of the Centre for Law and Civil Culture, CLCC, for the judicial review of an order of mandamus compelling the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to publish the properties recovered from Maina.

Counsel to the CLCC, Mr Imran A. told the magazine that many Nigerians are not happy with the secret manner the EFCC has been handling properties seized from Maina.

It’s in the public interest to publish whatever has been recovered from the scam, he told the magazine.

The belief is that the Commission which is currently holding the assets in trust for the Nigerian people, has failed to act responsibly because of its failure account for the properties.

Meanwhile, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, who gave the order, also granted the non-governmental organisation (NGO) extension of time to file an ex-parte application to seek the court’s leave for an order of mandamus against Malami and the anti-graft agency over the recovered items.

The judge made the pronouncements while ruling on the application marked FHC/L/CS/756/2019.

Granting the order Justice Oguntoyinbo said “that time is extended within which the Applicant may file ex-parte application seeking leave for an order of mandamus against the respondent.”

The “leave is also granted” Justice Oguntoyinbo stated “to the applicant to file application for an order of mandamus against the respondents to compel the respondents to release information as to the status and position of the landed properties and other valuables recovered from Absulrashid Maina, the chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force as contained in Applicants letter of 7^th January, 2019.”

The properties include 270 landed properties, monies, exotic cars and other valuables recovered by Abdulrashid Maina from the pension looters which property and valuables are kept in the custody of the respmdents, the judge said.

The controversial pension reform boss has been at large for months before EFFC finally arrested him in an Abuja hotel yesterday.