The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Faisal Maina, son of former pension reform boss Abdulrasheed Maina, to be committed to a correctional centre to serve his seven-year prison sentence for money laundering.
Justice James Omotosho gave the order after granting an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The commission had asked the court to issue a warrant committing Faisal to the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) to enforce his conviction for money laundering and failure to fully disclose his assets in an asset declaration form.
Faisal was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on October 14, 2026, in the Karsana area of Abuja, approximately six years after jumping bail and abandoning his trial.
In its application, the EFCC also requested that his prison sentence should commence from October 14, the date of his re-arrest.
Following the application moved by the commission’s counsel, M.K. Hussain, Justice Omotosho granted the requested reliefs and issued a warrant for Faisal’s commitment to a correctional centre.
The judge directed that, in accordance with the Court of Appeal’s judgment of November 24, 2022, Faisal should serve three years’ imprisonment on count one, seven years on count two and three years on count three.
The sentences are to run concurrently, starting from October 14, 2026, when he was re-arrested.
Background of Faisal Maina’s Conviction
Faisal was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja in 2019 on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering and failure to fully disclose his assets.
He pleaded not guilty before Justice Okon Abang, who initially presided over the case. However, he later jumped bail and stopped attending court proceedings.
Following his disappearance, Justice Abang proceeded with the trial in his absence and convicted him on October 7, 2021.
The court initially sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment on counts one and three, and 14 years on count two, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Justice Abang also ordered his arrest wherever he was found and directed that he be taken to a correctional centre to serve his sentence.
However, the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction while reducing the sentences in its judgment delivered on November 24, 2022, to three years on counts one and three, and seven years on count two.
Faisal’s father, Abdulrasheed Maina, was also convicted in a separate money laundering case involving approximately ₦2 billion. He has since completed his prison term.