Abdulrasheed Maina, the former chairman of the now-defunct Pension Reform Task Team, received a stern judicial warning on Thursday, the 5th of February, 2026, as Justice Abubakar Kutigi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Asokoro, threatened to revoke his bail over repeated delays in his trial.
The caution came after the defence sought an adjournment, citing a hospital referral that made no mention of any illness.
Justice Kutigi expressed his frustration with the protracted proceedings, noting that the trial had been stalled for nearly four years due to the defendant’s “diverse antics.” He highlighted that, despite numerous chances to respond to the allegations of fraud, Maina had largely evaded active participation in the case.
The judge further indicated that he had secured a commitment from the defence chambers to continue the trial with or without Maina present, effectively dismissing the request for adjournment.
Following the warning, prosecution counsel Francis Usani called the 14th prosecution witness, Gogi Mohammed, an EFCC investigator, to present additional evidence in the ongoing N738.6 million fraud case.
Mohammed detailed how Maina allegedly enlisted staff from the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF) to misappropriate funds through fictitious contracts, allowances, and a biometric enrolment exercise for pensioners.
The witness further revealed that investigators traced several of Maina’s assets to his relative, Maimuna Usman, in Kaduna. A search of her residence uncovered documents for over 30 properties, mostly located in Abuja and Kaduna, which were allegedly transferred to her by Maina.
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Some of the properties, including one in Jabi, Abuja, and another in Life Camp, Abuja, were reportedly purchased in cash for $2 million and $1.7 million, respectively, while a property on Katoru Road, Kaduna, was bought for N100 million.
The EFCC has since moved to have these properties forfeited.
Despite Maina’s absence from court, the trial which has dragged on for several years is expected to continue.