The Nigeria Police on Tuesday commenced the move to extradite a former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, who was arrested by Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL NCB, Abuja and their Nigerien counterpart in Niamey, Niger Republic on Tuesday.
Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, who disclosed this to journalists in a statement stressed that efforts were in top gear to ensure that the fugitive is brought back to Nigeria to enable him face trial in pending criminal proceedings against him.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Police Force is perfecting extradition processes of the fugitive to Nigeria to enable him face trial in pending criminal proceedings against him.
“Abdulrashid Maina, who was declared wanted by a court of competent jurisdiction, was arrested last night, 30th November, 2020 through the collaborative efforts of the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL NCB, Abuja and their Nigerien counterpart.
“He is currently in a detention facility in Niger Republic awaiting the completion of the extradition processes. The Force assures the citizens, that there shall be no hiding place for any suspect, no matter how highly placed.”
Maina, who is being prosecuted on 12 counts of money laundering to the tune of N2bn by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, jumped bail, forcing the trial judge, Justice Abang Okon, to issue a warrant for his arrest.
He was said to have stopped attending his trial since September 29, 2020, prompting Justice Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to order the remand of his surety, Senator Ali Ndume, last Monday.