APPEAL COURT UPHOLDS MAINA'S CONVICTION FOR N2.1 BILLION PENSION FUND THEFT

On Friday in Abuja, the Court of Appeal confirmed Justice Okon Abang's Federal High Court decision sentencing Abdulrasheed Maina to eight years in prison.

Maina, who was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was found guilty of laundering N2.1 billion in pension money and was punished as a result.

Justice Elfreda Daudu-Williams delivered the verdict on behalf of the three-member panel, concluding that Maina had a chance to defend himself but chose not to do so.

"There was no denial of fair hearing as opportunity was given to the appellant to defend himself by the lower court.

"Given the foregoing, it behoves the appellant to defend himself in the money laundering allegations," said Justice Daudu-Williams.

She said that there was not enough evidence in the defence given by Maina to prove that he did not commit the offence.

"The whole issue is resolved against the appellant and the appeal fails, this is the position of the court," the judge said.

Along with charging Maina, the judge also mandated that the assets of Common Input Property and Investment Limited, Maina's company, be forfeited to the federal government.

Maina appealed the trial court's decision to the appellate court because she was unhappy with it.

Remember how the EFCC said Maina opened and ran numerous bank accounts under false names?