x

Alleged pension scam: How Maina illegally acquired property in son’s name–EFCC witness

An EFCC operative, Mohammed Goji, on Wednesday, revealed how Abdulrasheed Maina, ex-Pension Reform boss, illegally acquired several property in the name of his son, Faisal.

Goji, who is a Principal Detective Superintendent with the anti-graft agency, was also the second prosecution witness (PW2) in the ongoing trial of Faisal.

Goji, who is also a member of Pension Fraud Team of EFCC that investigated Maina, gave the narrative while giving evidence before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

He said the Pension Fraud Team was constituted in 2010 to conduct investigation into pension accounts audit at the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation as well as the Police.

“During that time, Abdulrasheed Maina was the chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, established to restructure the pension office.

“He also became a subject of investigation. It was in the course of the investigation of Abdulrasheed Maina that the name of the defendant (Faisal) featured prominently.

“During the investigation of Abdulrasheed Maina, who was involved in a complex web of money laundering, which include movement of funds from the police pension account as well as the accounts of the pension office of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to corporate entities as payment for biometric enrollment; payment of collective allowances and payment of contracts, which were fraudulent,” he said.

He added that in the course of the investigation, a letter was sent to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to request for information on some of the companies they came across.

“They obliged us with copies of incorporation, Form C02 and other documents, which revealed the directors of the companies and their shareholders.

“Also, we sent letters of investigation activities to banks and requested for details of accounts and they obliged us with these documents,” he said.

The EFCC operative explained further that sometimes in September 2019, the EFCC received an intelligence report that Abdulrasheed Maina was in the country but they did not know where he was.

“So, the EFCC liased with the DSS to assist us in effecting the arrest of Maina.

“He was eventually arrested along with the defendant (Faisal) on Sep. 29, 2019.

“The DSS handed them over to us on Oct. 2, 2019 along with some items recovered from them, which include cars and personal belongings in suitcases, handbags and Bagco bags.

“We granted them an opportunity to invite their lawyers because we were directed to record their statements.

“On Oct. 3, Faisal was interviewed in the presence of his lawyer. His statement was recorded in his own handwriting and signed.

“Additional statements were recorded about three or four times later. He also filled his declaration of assets form in the presence of his lawyer,” Goji said.

The witness added that during the investigation, they came across an account named: Alhaji Faisal Abdullahi Farms with the UBA, of which he (Faisal) is a co-signatory with Abdulrasheed Maina.

He added that Alhaji Faisal Farms is operated by Abdulrasheed Maina and that investigation revealed that the account was funded with the proceeds of illegality.

“We came across following companies: Drew Investment & Construction Company LTD, Cruise City Ltd; Northridge Property Int’l Ltd; Mambilla Resorts. These companies have the defendant (Faisal) as a director.

“We also discovered that a property at Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna, was acquired in the name of Drew Investment & Construction Ltd.

“We also discovered that another property at Gombe Road, Biu LGA of Borno State was acquired in the name of Cruise City Ltd.

“We also discovered that a property at No. 3A Sambo Road, Kaduna, was acquired in the name of Faisal A. Abdullahi.

“A property at Plot 165 Life Camp, Abuja, was acquired in the name of Doctor Faisal A. Abdullahi.

“A property at No 16e, Kajuru road, Kaduna was also acquired in the name of Faisal A. Abdullahi,” he stated.

Gogi, who told the court that the full name of the defendant is Faisal Abdulrasheed Maina, hinted that in the course of filling the declaration of assets form, Faisal indicated his grandfather’s name as Abdullahi.

Justice Abang adjourned till Dec. 16 and 17 for trial continuation.(NAN)

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalistAs...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

NATIONAL POLICE DAY: SOKOTO  POLICE COMMAND  CELEBRATE DAY

By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto In continuation to mark National Police...

Tinubu political adviser, Hakeem Baba Ahmed resigns from.office 

By Achadu Gabriel, KadunaDr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the political adviser...

PLATEAU APC LEADER SENATOR LALONG HOLDS MORE ENGAGEMENTS WITH STAKEHOLDERS 

Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District Simon Bako Lalong...

Bokkos killings – Death toll hits 52

As  Plateau govt calls for calm says ,few  arrest...

Corruption stalls Nigeria’s Guinness World record boxing championship fight – Bash Ali writes Tinubu

*Say's 132 countries expected in Nigeria By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Nigerian's...

Kaduna: Uba Sani has revamps health sector- Commissioner  

*As NPSC ranked Kaduna State By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Governor Uba...

North-Central APC adopts SGF Akume as leader, targets 6 million votes for Tinubu in 2027

By Isreal  Adams Jos The North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC,...

CSOs Inaugurate New Committee to Enhance Budget Accountability and Combat Corruption

• …CBIAMEC to Focus on Oversight, Transparency, and Effective...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img