Faisal Abdulrasheed Maina, the fugitive son of Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, has been apprehended by the Department of State Services. The security agency subsequently transferred him into the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Security sources revealed that Faisal who has been on the run since 2020, was trailed and apprehended by operatives of the DSS in Karsana area of Abuja.
“His arrest followed credible intelligence which indicated that Faisal had secretly returned to the country”, a source revealed.
It will be recalled that Faisal was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering and conspiracy. He subsequently violated his bail conditions and escaped the country.
The trial continued in his absence, culminating in his conviction and sentence to 14 years’ imprisonment by Justice Okon Abang in 2021.
The Court had ordered that Faisal be arrested wherever he was found in Nigeria and remanded in a correctional centre to serve his sentence. It further directed that, if found outside the country, the Federal Government should take lawful steps to secure his extradition to serve his prison term.
“The handover of Faisal to the EFCC is expected to facilitate the enforcement of the Court’s judgment and ensure that he serves his sentence in accordance with the law”, a source declared.
What You Should Know
Faisal Maina, who had been on the run since jumping bail following a money laundering conviction in 2021, was tracked down and arrested by the DSS in Abuja after returning to the country secretly.
- Positive Impact: This arrest demonstrates the effectiveness of intelligence sharing among Nigerian security agencies, ensuring that convicted fugitives cannot permanently evade justice.
- Potential Concerns: The incident highlights ongoing challenges with security enforcement and border monitoring, as high-profile convicts are occasionally able to slip back into the country undetected before being recaptured.
