February 20, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday sharply reprimanded Abdulrasheed Maina, the former chairman of the now-defunct Pension Reform Task Team, and his defence counsel for repeatedly delaying proceedings in his long-running fraud trial. The judge described the defence’s conduct as a major impediment to justice, threatening serious consequences if the pattern continues.
Maina is accused of diverting and laundering about ₦738.6 million in pension funds while he led the Pension Reform Task Team, charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He has been standing trial since 2019 on multiple counts related to the alleged misappropriation of public funds.
Chief Judge Abubakar Kutigi, presiding over the case, expressed visible frustration during proceedings after defence counsel attempted to secure an adjournment on the basis that the defendant was unwell. The medical document presented was criticised by the court as insufficiently specific, prompting the judge to conclude that the application was part of ongoing tactics to delay the trial rather than a genuine health concern.
Justice Kutigi lamented that Maina’s presence in court has been sporadic, noting that the defendant had not appeared in person for several years, and that repeated diversionary applications by his lawyers had “stalled proceedings completely.” He warned that he may move to revoke Maina’s bail if delays persist and instructed the defence team that the trial must continue with or without Maina’s appearance.
The prosecution renewed its efforts to advance its case, calling additional witnesses and presenting evidence suggesting widespread abuse of office and intricate schemes to conceal funds allegedly siphoned under Maina’s tenure. Investigators have testified to findings of property holdings and cash transactions linked to the defendant, as well as the involvement of intermediaries in diverting public resources.
Maina had previously been convicted in 2021 on separate pension fraud charges involving other sums and sentenced to eight years in prison, but was later released on bail in 2025 as the current trial unfolded.
The judge adjourned the matter to later dates to ensure the continuation of the trial and insisted that the court would no longer tolerate dilatory tactics from the defence, emphasising that justice must take its course without undue interruption.