Just In: Court Sentences President Buhari's Ex-Appointee to 8 Years in Prison for Money LaunderingPAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! FCT, Abuja - Abdulrasheed Maina, a former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment. A statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, November 8, indicates that a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Maina on charges of money laundering. Legit.ng recalls that in 2019, Maina was arraigned by the EFCC but he pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N2 billion. Recommended for you “You think say you wise”: Burna Boy teases his sister, reveals her age duri... Delivering the judgment on Monday, Okon Abang, trial judge, held that Maina stole over N2 billion belonging to pensioners, “most of whom have died without reaping the fruits of their labour”. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app The judge also held that the former PRTT chairman is guilty of concealing his true identity as a signatory to accounts opened in two banks by using the identity of his family members without their knowledge. Legit.ng gathers that the accounts had cash deposits of N300 million, N500 million, and N1.5 billion. He said throughout Maina’s service as a civil servant, his salary and emoluments could not amount to the monies in these accounts. The court also found Maina guilty of purchasing a property in Abuja, with cash, in the sum of $1.4 million, which is above the statutory threshold of N5 million and without passing through a financial institution. Recommended for you BREAKING: Labour Party suspends prominent governorship candidate, gives rea... Justice Abang found the accused guilty on count 2, 3, 6, 7, 9 and 10 of the charge and sentenced him to eight years imprisonment. The judge explained that although the law made provision for a maximum sentence of 14 years, he was moved by Maina’s plea of allocutus. Plea of allocutus is a plea made to the court by a defendant who has been found guilty prior to being sentenced. The judge held that the sentence would run concurrently, with effect from October 25, 2019, which is the date of arraignment. Meanwhile, the court also ordered Maina and his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Limited, to forfeit about N2.1 billion traced to their bank accounts to the federal government, after which the company should be wound up. The court equally ordered that Maina’s properties at Life Camp and Jabi Districts of Abuja should be forfeited to the government. Recommended for you "I used to fear Samson": Pretty lady walks 2 big lions as if they are dogs... The convict’s bulletproof car and a BMW 5 series vehicle that was found at the premises of the convict would also be auctioned and the proceeds forfeited to the government. Abiodun Azeez commented on Facebook: Abdulazeez Mohammed Kaura said: Ekezeh Ishioma Sabastine said: Recommended for you "You don dey pass your boundary": Carter Efe begs Davido for a verse on his... Bisong Obi said: Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Faisal Maina, the 21-year-old son of Abdulrasheed Maina, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Justice Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered the judgement on Thursday, October 7. The trial judge found Faisal guilty on a three-count money laundering charge preferred against him by the EFCC According to the judge, the EFCC was able to establish that Faisal operated a fictitious bank account with a first-generation bank through which his father, Maina, laundered N58.1million. Source: Legit.ng After years of trial, the court has finally found Abdulrasheed Maina, a former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), guilty of the EFCC's charges against him A Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Maina on charges of money laundering and sentenced him to eight years in prison The former PRTT boss was also found guilty of stealing over N2 billion belonging to pensioners, most of whom have died PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! FCT, Abuja - Legit.ng Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app Legit.ng Legit.ng "Enjoyment berekete after 8yrs. whereas a lot of Nigerians are on awaiting trial after like 10years in prisons already. Eventually a lot of them would be sentenced to 10yrs or more for just mobile phone theft." "Just 8 years fro this kind of monumental damages?, While alot of pensioners died as a result of his nefarious action. Anyway Allah will certainly judge accordingly." "This judgement is a travesty of justice. It mocked the Nigeria judiciary in no small measure and exposed further the need to reform our anti corruption laws to meet global standard. "The Maina loot rendered many lives incapacitated and wretched. Main a will spend the few years in jail, come out and enjoy his loot. "God save this Nigeria." "35 years should have been the ideal period to start since it takes same to contribute for pensions and gratuities. You see why there are more criminals out there? There's indeed an incentive for criminality!"