Some social media users have expressed anger at the lack of remorse by a former chairman of the now-defunct Pension Reforms Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced him to a total of 61 years’ imprisonment for defrauding the Federal Government and some pensioners of N2.1bn.

Justice Okon Abang on Monday said Maina was guilty of all the 12 counts filed on October 26, 2019, against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Maina was subsequently convicted to a total of 61 years in jail to run concurrently for eight years with effect from October 26, 2019.

Since the sentences are to run concurrently, Maina would spend only eight years in jail from October 26, 2019, which means he has only six years left.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of Maina’s three landed properties in Abuja and his bullet proof jeeps and cars. They would be auctioned and the proceeds paid into the accounts of the Federal Government.

However, many Nigerians were gutted by the disposition of the convict who beamed with smile after the verdict of the court.

In viral video clips and photos, Maina, who was led out of the court premises by prison officials, indulged himself as he smiled and waved at some of his associates who occupied the walkway.

Social media users also berated officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service over the seeming preferential treatment accorded to Maina, who wore a well-ironed butter-coloured Kaftan with a cap to match. The convict was also whisked away in a green-coloured air-conditioned Hilux vehicle belonging to the Service, and not the usual Black Maria used to convey convicts.

A Facebook user, Olagbaiye James, exclaimed, “AC inside vehicle conveying a criminal of that magnitude…Reverse is the case if he was not a politician.”

“Imagine, someone that Black Maria should be waiting for outside with a prisoner’s numbered cloth. He is even very happy because he will soon be pardoned,” Henry Ogbole claimed.

[Harry Imeh equally said, “Only in Nigeria will someone smile to jail because he knows there is a VIP section in prison.”

Abubakar Muhammad blurted, “Just look at that! The man was laughing, this means no remorse whatsoever, after leading pensioner grannies and grandpas to their early graves for siphoning their entitlements.”

“Pensioners are wailing and dying because they can’t have access to their pension and someone is busy laughing, because he felt that gullible Nigeria will keep shut because he was sentenced to prison. Go to civil service today you will see aged people running after cars begging for alms all in the name that their pension hasn’t been paid. If our leaders could buy eternity, they wouldn’t hesitate,” Ogunoye Oluwasegun said.

Another user, Richard Ndidi, said, “Smiling to prison is giving a notion that the law hasn’t taken effect… N2 billion and not N2,000. The heart of a man is desperately wicked.”

Before his eventual conviction, Maina had jumped bail and fled to neighbouring Niger Republic but he was apprehended in December 2020 and brought back to Nigeria to face justice.

In October 2021, Justice Abang sentenced Maina’s son, Faisal, to 14 years in prison for operating a fictitious bank account with the United Bank for Africa, through which his father, Maina, laundered the sum of N58.1million.

Abang had also ordered that the 21-year-old, who is now at large, be arrested anywhere he is found in Nigeria and remanded in any Correctional Service Centre to serve his jail term.

https://punchng.com/knocks-as-maina-smiles-waves-at-associates-after-eight-year-jail-sentence/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1636446010

PHOTO - Maina at the court premises in Abuja on Monday.

PHOTO - Maina taken away in a rolled up, air-conditioned vehicle from the court

see someone that is in the prison we are still in Nigeria, same useless judges will sentence person that stole goat to death by hanging Who is deceiving who tori Olorun he will soon be out watch out! the deaths of those innocent old people are on his generations barawo

He knows buhari would still package the loot and keep for him

While he would be sent through the back door to one less country in Europe to cool the time out

Phiting collupution, if na igboho now na chains he for take commot even when not yet found guilty

You people will see the results of the script they are playing for you people now later. Use Orji kalu 12 years jail term as a case study

His own cell will have AC, Gucci customized chairs and bed, Samsung television, toilet and bathroom, foods and drinks of his choice, swimming pool, laptop with internet connection , 24hrs electricity and enough Olosho for him whenever he wants .

His special treatment is guaranteed in his VIP cell.
Why won't he smile?
God! God! God! Please.

Who wouldn't smile and jubilate?
He was given 8 years to run from October 2019. That means he has 6 years left to serve.

NIGERIA IS A FRAUD.

The man was happy because he realized that he had wasted his time running around ,he did not know his punishment will be as simple as this.

That's 9ja for you

PointZerom:


He was given 8 years to run from October 2019. That means he has 6 years left to serve.

NIGERIA IS A FRAUD.

so when he was drinking juice, bleeping olosho on hijab, his time was already counting

V i p cell with plasma tv nd dstv

Ahwa panshion money just go laikdat.

Leverage2021:
so when he was drinking juice, bleeping olosho on hijab, his time was already counting

That sentence is like a slap on the wrist.

PrinceOfLagos:
His own cell will have AC, Gucci customized chairs and bed, Samsung television, toilet and bathroom, foods and drinks of his choice, swimming pool, laptop with internet connection , 24hrs electricity and enough Olosho for him whenever he wants .

That was why the EFCC and the prison officials were fighting to have him. Whosoever wins smiles to the Bank.

K

He shared the bribes and all the parties received the money with appreciation...they are even planning to increase prisoner daily feeding all because of him...

Tell me why won't he be happy?

Shameless idiot.

Disheartening

Buhari will miss him

He should be beaten blue black

Itz a show and he is jst playing his script

See the way the prison warder dey observe am for the second picture..

Buhari's Looting Machine.

The man escaped justice under PDP rein of evil, under this administration justice he has been convicted of looting. Always remember that PDP which the op supports, provided looters a free environment to operate unimpeded.

What is more funny is how morally depraved things who defend their brothers and sisters from being prosecuted for looting are turning around acting like they have stood for anything in virtuous in the lives.

Maxymilliano:


https://punchng.com/knocks-as-maina-smiles-waves-at-associates-after-eight-year-jail-sentence/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1636446010

that means that Maina won't spend 2024 in prison.

I shall be back .....

Those security sef.. Suffer no dey tire them?.. see that one wen hold gun for back of hilux with he black face..
Forming hardman under sun... While the criminal dey inside hilux,smiling to a special prison, where he will still have access to almost everything..

vedaxcool:
The man escaped justice under PDP rein of evil, under this administration justice he has been convicted of looting. Always remember that PDP which the op supports, provided looters a free environment to operate unimpeded.

What is more funny is how morally depraved things who defend their brothers and sisters from being prosecuted for looting are turning around acting like they have stood for anything in virtuous in the lives.

U always have a funny way of reading your paper upside down.
Think deep and don't take issues lopsidedly, don't reason shallow

[s]

BobbieZion:


U always have a funny way of reading your paper upside down.
Think deep and don't take issues lopsidedly, don't reason shallow

[/s]

Describing your condition to me won't get it solved anytime soon.

vedaxcool:
[s][/s]

Describing your condition to me won't get it solved anytime soon.

I just recapped you.... What I have already told you before son.
Get it or leave it... Cancelling the mentions won't do u good either .