Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, wanted over an alleged case of receiving stolen property.
The commission announced the development in a wanted notice issued on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, and signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
According to the notice, Maina, 61, is wanted in connection with an alleged case of “Receiving Stolen Properties.”
The EFCC appealed to members of the public with information about his whereabouts to contact the commission or the nearest police station and other security agencies.
Commission seeks information on Maina’s whereabouts
The EFCC listed its offices in Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja as points where information about Maina can be provided.
The agency also released a telephone contact and an official email address for information concerning his whereabouts.
The notice identified Maina as an indigene of Biu, Borno State.
The commission did not provide detailed information in the wanted notice about the specific property allegedly received by Maina, when the alleged offence occurred or the circumstances surrounding the latest case.
Maina already has a separate money-laundering conviction
The latest EFCC action comes against the background of Maina’s long-running legal battles over pension-related financial offences.
In November 2021, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Maina on money-laundering charges involving more than ₦2 billion in pension funds and sentenced him to eight years’ imprisonment.
The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and sentence in May 2023. According to the Nigerian Correctional Service, Maina was released on February 25, 2025, after qualifying for statutory remission based on good conduct.
His earlier conviction should not, however, be confused with the allegation contained in the latest wanted notice. The EFCC’s September 2026 notice concerns an alleged case of receiving stolen property.
Separate N738.6 million case remains before court
Maina is also facing a separate criminal proceeding before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
In that case, he is being prosecuted alongside Ann Igwe Olachi on a nine-count charge involving the alleged receipt of about ₦738.6 million in stolen funds.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned, and proceedings have continued before Justice Abubakar Kutigi.
In February 2026, the judge threatened to revoke Maina’s bail following repeated absences from court. The proceedings included a trial-within-trial concerning the admissibility of statements allegedly made by Maina to EFCC investigators.
The existence of that ongoing case provides additional context to the latest wanted declaration.
Why the latest declaration matters
Maina became nationally prominent during his tenure as chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, which was established to address problems surrounding pension administration and the recovery of funds connected to pension fraud.
His subsequent prosecution became one of Nigeria’s major corruption cases involving a former senior public official.
The latest wanted notice indicates that the EFCC is pursuing another matter involving Maina, separate from the money-laundering conviction for which he previously served a prison sentence.
The commission’s decision to seek information about his whereabouts also comes as his separate N738.6 million trial has faced delays linked to his absence from court.
Previous EFCC wanted declaration
This is not the first time Maina has been declared wanted by the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC previously declared him wanted in 2015 over allegations connected to pension-related procurement, stealing and money laundering.
His earlier legal troubles later culminated in the 2021 money-laundering conviction, which was subsequently upheld on appeal.
The latest declaration therefore adds another chapter to a legal history that has involved multiple investigations and court proceedings over several years.
What happens next
The immediate focus is on the EFCC’s efforts to establish Maina’s whereabouts and secure his appearance in relation to the latest allegation.
The agency has asked members of the public with credible information to contact its offices or other security agencies.
Meanwhile, the separate N738.6 million case before the FCT High Court remains pending, meaning Maina faces continuing legal proceedings apart from the matter cited in the new wanted notice.
The EFCC has not publicly disclosed further details of the alleged stolen-property case in its latest notice. Until such details are formally presented and tested through the legal process, the allegation remains an allegation.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) — September 23, 2026 wanted notice for Abdulrasheed Maina.
- Channels Television — Report on the EFCC’s fresh wanted declaration. (Channels Television)
- The Guardian Nigeria — Report on Maina’s latest wanted notice and legal history. (The Guardian)
- Premium Times — Reports on Maina’s ongoing N738.6 million case and previous conviction. (Premium Times Nigeria)
- The PUNCH — Report on the latest EFCC declaration and Maina’s previous wanted status. (Punch Newspapers)
