A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary forfeiture of 23 properties linked to Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT). 

Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo, the presiding judge on case, gave the order while ruling on a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday.

The EFCC prayed the court to order temporary forfeiture of the properties linked to Maina situated in Kaduna, Borno, and Sokoto states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while it publish an advert in a national daily to give room for appeals by individuals or organisations that might have contrary pleas on the final forfeiture of the properties to make their case in court.

The anti-graft agency supported its motion with a 30-paragraph affidavit which it brought in pursuant to Section 17 of the Money Laundering Act.

Ogunbanjo granted the petitions of the anti-graft agency and ordered the EFCC to return to the court on November 19, for the mentioning of the case.

Maina and his 20- year- old son, Faisal, who had tried to evade arrest, were arrested by the  Department of the State Service on the request of the EFCC at the Pennsylvania Avenue Hotel, Utako, Abuja based on allegations that he had “mindlessly looted” the pension coffers of billions of naira  and other money laundering related issues during his tenure as the chairman of the PRTT.