Crime

Investigation Exposes US, Dubai Properties Linked To Maina’s Pension Fraud

Published

5 months ago

January 30, 2026

In 2010, as thousands of Nigerian pensioners queued endlessly for unpaid benefits, Abdulrasheed Maina, then chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, was quietly acquiring luxury properties abroad.

In August of that year, Mr Maina purchased a $215,000 house in Kentucky, United States, paying cash with no mortgage, according to property records reviewed by Premium Times and its investigative partners.

That transaction marked the beginning of a string of foreign property acquisitions allegedly funded with money diverted from Nigeria’s pension system.

A cross-border investigation by Premium Times, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), and the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) has revealed that between 2010 and 2013, Mr Maina acquired four properties in the United States and the United Arab Emirates worth over $1.3m.

The purchases coincided with the period Nigerian authorities later alleged that Mr Maina siphoned millions of dollars from pension funds under his control.

Property records show that:

In August 2010, Mr Maina bought a house in Frankfort, Kentucky, for $215,000 in cash.

In 2011, through VIU Investment LLC, a company he controlled, he purchased two more homes in Kentucky for a combined $415,000, again paying cash.

In June 2013, he bought a two-bedroom hotel apartment in Dubai for nearly $700,000, shortly after he was removed from office.

The Dubai property is currently registered in the name of his daughter, Farida Abdulrasheed Maina.

Timing Raises Questions

Court documents indicate that Mr Maina and his personal secretary allegedly diverted over $1m from pension funds between 2010 and 2013—a timeline that aligns closely with the property purchases.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Maina fraudulently obtained $1.8m from public funds through pension biometrics contracts shortly before buying the first US property.

Divorce Deal Transfers US Property

The investigation further revealed that Mr Maina’s ex-wife, Laila Abdulrasheed Maina, gained ownership of one of the US properties through a divorce settlement.

In 2022, a Kentucky court dissolved their 30-year marriage and awarded Laila the $215,000 Frankfort home, which Mr Maina had bought in 2010 with cash.

At the time of the divorce, Mr Maina had already been convicted of money laundering in Nigeria.

The EFCC did not attempt to seize the US properties, and their existence had not been publicly disclosed until now.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale told PREMIUM TIMES that the agency would likely investigate any foreign assets linked to illicit proceeds if provided with sufficient information.

Asset Transfers and Trusts

As corruption allegations intensified in Nigeria, Mr Maina began reshuffling ownership of his American properties.

In January 2013, he transferred the two Kentucky homes owned by VIU Investment LLC first to himself and then to the Abdulrasheed Maina Children’s Trust.

He fled Nigeria for Dubai in March 2013.

When he returned in 2017, public outrage followed revelations that he had been secretly reinstated into the civil service despite being a fugitive.

Arrest, Trial and Conviction

Mr Maina was declared wanted by the EFCC, arrested in 2019, and charged with money laundering.

In November 2021, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sentenced him to eight years’ imprisonment for laundering N2bn in pension funds.

“The convict’s salary as a civil servant was a little above N300,000 and could not have amounted to N2bn even if he saved for 35 years,” the judge held.

Mr Maina fled trial once more but was rearrested in Niger Republic and extradited to Nigeria.

His son, Faisal Maina, was also convicted in a separate money laundering case and sentenced in absentia after fleeing to the United States.

Early Release, Public Outrage

The Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed that Mr Maina was released on February 25, 2025, following statutory remission for good behaviour.

He resurfaced publicly last week after a branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) named him a patron and presented him with a “Rule of Law and Courage Award.”

The NBA national leadership swiftly disowned the award and announced disciplinary action against the branch officials involved.

Two Names, Two Jurisdictions

Following her divorce, Laila changed her name in the US to Laila Duke Williams in late 2022.

However, in Nigeria, she continues to operate under Laila Abdulrasheed Maina, incorporating two companies in 2024 using that name, according to Corporate Affairs Commission records.

Both Mr Maina and his ex-wife hold dual Nigerian and American citizenship.

In Kentucky, Laila declared herself unemployed during divorce proceedings.

Yet earlier, she had filed affidavits in Nigerian courts claiming ownership of several properties the EFCC sought to confiscate, insisting they were bought from proceeds of an African fabric export business.

The EFCC countered that no evidence supported such claims.

In 2024, all 23 Nigerian properties linked to Mr Maina—including one bought with $1.4m cash—were finally forfeited to the Federal Government.

Assets Beyond Nigeria’s Reach

While Nigerian authorities recovered domestic assets, Mr Maina’s foreign properties remain beyond their reach.

Former US Justice Department official Stefan Cassella said American authorities could pursue money laundering charges against Laila if it is proven she knowingly benefited from criminal proceeds.

“If she knew the property was criminally derived, she could face charges in the US,” Cassella said, noting that the statute of limitations has not yet expired.

According to Premium Times, both Mr Maina and Laila declined to respond to multiple requests for comment.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 330

Crime

150 terrorists convicted in 48 hours, says AGF

Published

2 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Federal Government has secured approximately 150 convictions within the first two days of its latest phase of mass terrorism trials, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), disclosed on Tuesday.

Fagbemi made the disclosure while speaking with journalists at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the trials are being conducted simultaneously before 10 judges of the court.

The AGF said the current phase, which commenced on Monday, had already recorded about 160 trials leading to roughly 150 convictions on its first day alone.

“Yesterday, we had about 160 trials. I think about 150 convictions,” Fagbemi told reporters.

He added that proceedings on Tuesday brought approximately 300 cases before the courts, with another 84 cases expected to be concluded before the close of the day.

“Whatever we can do, or wherever we stop today, we’ll continue tomorrow and also on Thursday. So it’s still ongoing,” the minister said.

Fagbemi appealed for patience from members of the public as the exercise continued, stressing that the initiative reflected the government’s commitment to justice, accountability and the rule of law.

On Monday, the AGF had said the ongoing phase marked the fourth round of mass terrorism trials conducted since the inception of the current administration, describing the exercise as a clear signal that the government would not tolerate terrorism in any form.

“The message is clear, direct and straightforward. It is that the present administration is not taking the issue of terrorism with levity. And that is why you see ongoing trials.

“Since the inception of this administration, this is about the fourth phase that we are undertaking. So the message is that let everybody know that terrorism in whatever form or shape will not be tolerated,” Fagbemi added.

The prosecution is being led by the AGF himself, while the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, heads the defence team.

Among the judges handling the cases are Justices Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman, James Omotosho, Obiora Egwuatu and Ekerete Akpan, with proceedings taking place across several courtrooms simultaneously.

The current phase of trials is expected to run through Thursday, with the overall exercise scheduled to last one week.

The latest phase follows a previous round conducted between April 7 and April 10, during which no fewer than 500 alleged terrorists were tried before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

Post Views: 32

Crime

Police arrest man for sharing fake video of bandit attack in Ekiti

Published

21 hours ago

June 16, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a man, Sunday Olawale, over allegedly spreading fake news of bandits’ attack on Are Ekiti in the Irepodun Ifelodun Local Government area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, said in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday that the suspect, who confessed to the crime, had been unable to give a reason for the false information.

Abutu stated, “The Police Command wishes to reiterate that there was no bandit invasion in Are Ekiti or any part of the Ekiti State”.

The statement reads in part: “On 14th of June, 2026, the Command Rapid Response Squad trailed and arrested one Sunday Olawale at Ekute area of Ado Ekiti for cyberstalking and giving of false information intended to cause breakdown of law and order.

“It would be recalled that on the 12th of June 2026, a video was circulating on social media claiming that bandits had invaded Are Ekiti. The video was later confirmed to be false.

“During the investigation, the suspect confessed to having peddled the false information on social media and was unable to give any satisfactory reason for his action.

“The State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, while warning that the Command will not tolerate any act of fake news peddling or content capable of initiating panic among members of the public, advises members of the public to always verify information they believe or share on social media,” the PPRO stated.

Post Views: 56

Crime

Police confirm three security operatives killed in NIPSS Plateau gunmen attack

Published

21 hours ago

June 16, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Plateau State Police Command has confirmed that three security operatives were killed in an attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, in the early hours of Monday.

In an information update in Jos on Tuesday, signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo, the command said, “The Plateau State Police Command, on a very sad note, wishes to confirm the incident that occurred in the early hours of today, 16th June 2026, involving security personnel on duty at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru.

“Regrettably, three security personnel lost their lives during the incident.”

The command disclosed that security has been beefed up around the facility following the attack.

“Security reinforcements have been deployed, and patrols have been intensified around the general area by the Commissioner of Police, CP Bassey Ewah,” SP Alabo stated.

The police also assured residents that calm has returned to the area.

“The situation is under control and normal activities have resumed,” the statement added.

On the next steps, the command said, “Investigation is ongoing. The command urges members of the public to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.”

The PPRO concluded that “Further updates will be communicated in due course.”

NIPSS Kuru is Nigeria’s premier policy training institution for senior public officials.

The attack marks one of the most serious security breaches at the facility in recent years.