Nigeria to Extradite Maina After Arrest in Niger Republic

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Mr Abdulrashid Abdullahi Maina, will soon be extradited to Nigeria.

This was confirmed by the Nigeria Police Force in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr Maina was declared wanted after he jumped bail. His surety, Senator Ali Ndume, was sent to prison when he could not produce the fugitive.

On Monday, it was reported that Mr Maina, who is standing trial for alleged fraud in Nigeria, was arrested in Niamey, Niger Republic.

In the statement today, Mr Mba said Nigeria was processing the extradition of the fugitive, noting that he would be deported to the country to continue his trial in court.

“Following the arrest of former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrashid Abdullahi Maina in Niamey, Niger Republic, 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, November 30, 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 the 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,” the statement said.

Before now, Mr Maina had claimed some powerful persons in and out of the government were planning to shut him down because of the information at his disposal.