EXCLUSIVE: PHOTOS: The Well-Furnished, Air-Conditioned Building Where ‘Prisoner’ AbdulRasheed Maina Lives

Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), may have been sentenced to eight years in prison for over N2billion pension fraud, but he is currently “living like a king” and has never been in a prison cell, FIJ can report.

On Monday, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, sentenced Maina to eight years in Kuje Medium Security Prison, where he has been held, convicting him and his company, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd, on all the 12 counts filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

MAINA’S FULL PUNISHMENT

Maina was sentenced to various concurrent jail terms ranging from three to eight years. He was jailed three years for Count 1, five years for Count 2, eight years for Count 3, eight years for Count 4, two years for Count 5, five years for Count 6.

HE was jailed for eight years for Count 7, three years for Count 8, five years for Count 9, eight years for Count 10, three years for Count 11 and three years for Count 12.

Justice Abang ordered that the terms of imprisonment shall run concurrently beginning from October 25, 2019, the date he was arraigned, meaning he will serve only the lenghtiest of all the terms: eight years. However, FIJ can confirm that in those two years since October 2019, Maina has never slept in a prison cell.

‘LIVING LIKE A KING’

“Which Maina? Maina that since he was admitted to Kuje correctional facility, he has never seen a cell,” one prison source, who asked not to be named for fear of official vicitmisation, told FIJ.

The fully air-conditioned building where Maina is housed, almost living like a free man.

“He has been living in the hospital inside the facility; it is more or less like a living room. He lives inside one of the rooms in the hospital building — not in the hospital ward itself.”

A second prison source, who also asked not to be named, told FIJ Maina was “living like a king” in prison, even though some other high-profile prisoners, such as Jolly Nyame, former Governor of Taraba State, and Farouk Lawan, former House of Representatives member, are indeed in cells.

Nyame is serving a 12-year jail term for misappropriation of funds while he was Governor of Taraba State from 1999 to 2007, while Lawan is serving a seven-year jail term for demanding a $3million bribe and receiving $500,000 in two tranches from businessman Femi Otedola.

Maina’s abode is just two rooms to the left of this visible air-conditioned room

“Maina is a northerner treated like a king. He is living large inside a well-furnished room in the hospital,” the second source said. “Even Farouk Lawan is inside his cell in Custody 4; Jolly Nyame is in Custody 3 downstairs.”

FIJ understands Maina’s room is just two rooms to the left of the air-conditioned room in the picture above.

FIJ contacted DSC Awiza, who was the Chief Warder of Kuje Prison until just a few days ago, but calls and a text message to his line were both unanswered.

NOT THE FIRST TIME

A Google Map/aerial view of the facility showing the hospital building where Maina lives

Backdoor handing of special privileges to the rich and powerful is a frequent occurrence in Nigerian prisons. An undercover investigation by journalist ‘Fisayo Soyombo revealed such privileges at Ikoyi Prison — not just to the powerful but to any inmate willing to make a handsome payment in exchange for comfort.

Foundation for Investigative Journalism

Abeg make I join Maina laugh small

Were you expecting anything different ?

Oga na Master....

The Place is for APC members.

I just pity Nigerians wey dey support this gang of men

But is normal thing in every country, if you have money you get special treatment.

It is just not a Nigerian thing, how do those who dig tunnel to set particular inmate free do it, if they are with other inmates, how come they are the only one to escape, if they dont have special preference how come they have access to communicate with the jail breakers?

Rich men don't stay in cells...

lalasticlala Mynd44

Show us where Kanu is staying.

Nonpartisan1:
Nnamdi Kanu, self acclaimed leader of IPOB Terrorist Group, who was charged for more grevious offences like murder and treason once lived like this in Kuje Prisons, before he jumped bail and ran away to Kenya.

So this is not a new thing.

See them zombies

Una dey expect to see am being treated like one of those prisoners for okere prison...But we wey be the remaining sensible Nigerians know say na VIP prisoner he go be

This just reminded me of pablo escobar wey build him own prison

Heaven on Earth

This is a country where if you steal huge amount of money, you will given a kingship treatment but if you steal little amount of money you will be given death sentence. I WEEP FOR NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS.

The world we leave in









Guys wey no get girlfriend get peace of mind

Living like a king gba ni jare...

Mheen! Law is for the common man!

Could this be true?

Mtchew

Prison is prison, we are satisfied as long as he is not a free man, but we would be more happy if they start maltreating him

honest1480:
Q

Ndi ani

Nonpartisan1:
Nnamdi Kanu, self acclaimed leader of IPOB Terrorist Group, who was charged for more grevious offences like murder and treason once lived like this in Kuje Prisons, before he jumped bail and ran away to Kenya.

So this is not a new thing.

Na lie

When we say that this is a zoo and there's no rule of law or equality of all citizens, some zombies will think is a joke.

Anyways, wetin concern me

Sadly, in most countries

Rich men hardly stay in normal cells

(including the US)

Please let him serve his time in peace
Air conditioning system isn't luxury
Prison facilities in some countries are better than most government houses in Nigeria.
Na jail them jail am, no be hell fire judgement biko

VIP for you