By George Omagbemi
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Faisal Abdulrasheed Maina, son of former Pension Reform Task Team chairman Abdulrasheed Maina, following his reported return to Nigeria after six years on the run.
Faisal was arrested in the Karsana area of Abuja and subsequently handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), according to security sources cited by multiple news organisations.
His arrest reportedly followed intelligence indicating that he had secretly returned to the country. He had been wanted since 2020 after leaving Nigeria while facing prosecution over money laundering and conspiracy charges.
In October 2021, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Faisal and sentenced him to 14 years’ imprisonment. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in November 2022 but reduced the sentence to seven years.
The case involved allegations that Faisal operated a fictitious account with United Bank for Africa through which approximately ₦58.1 million was allegedly laundered. The funds were linked to transactions involving his father.
The latest arrest is expected to facilitate enforcement of the outstanding court judgment. Further details about the EFCC’s next steps have not been publicly disclosed.
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