The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the conviction and eight years sentence imposed on the former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina for laundering about N2.1 billion.
In a judgement on Friday, a three-member panel of the court unanimously affirmed the 8th November 2021 ruling by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, convicting and sentencing Maina.
In the lead judgement, Justice Elfreda Williams-Daudu affirmed the various interlocutory rulings delivered in the course of the trial at the Federal High Court, which Maina appealed against.
Justice Williams-Daudu, who resolved the two issues identified for determination against Maina, held that he was not denied a fair hearing by the trial court and that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had prosecuted Maina and his firm, Common Input Property, and Investment Limited on a 12-count charge, bordering on money laundering offences.
Justice Abang held that the prosecution established its case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted Maina and his firm on all the counts.
The judge sentenced Maina to various jail terms, ranging from three to eight years, which are to run concurrently.
Justice Abang sentenced Maina to three years in relation to count one; five years in relation to count two, eight years for count three; eight years for count four; two years for count five; five years for count six, and eight years in count seven.
Also, the judge sentenced Maina to three years in jail for count eight; five years for count nine; eight years for count 10, and three years for counts 11 and three.
The judge ordered that the firm be wound-up and its assets forfeited to the Federal Government.
