TheCable

Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of Pension Refund Task Team, is paying the price of “protecting the pension funds from looters”, according to his family.

In a statement issued in Kaduna on Sunday, Abdullahi Usman, spokesman of the family said false allegations were levelled against Maina, who is facing a 12-count charge of money laundering.

Describing him as a victim of circumstance, Usman said justice must be done.

“Maina was in a position where a lot of people thought they could exploit and loot pensions funds which he disallowed,” the statement read.

“He is today paying the price for protecting the pension funds from looters and extorting funds termites.”

Usman described as untrue, the reports that Maina has been feigning illness to escape justice.

At his last court appearance, Maina was wheeled into the courtroom, while his lawyer explained that he had been ill.

But there have been reports that Maina is hale and hearty and had been receiving visitors in Kuje Prison where he was remanded.

However, Usman said despite many efforts made, family members of the accused have been denied access to him.

“It is absolutely not true that Maina is receiving any presidential treatment in Kuje prison where he is being detained,” he said.

“He is placed under the usual prison conditions in an uncomfortable cell that is dilapidated… It is in fact a more difficult task than the usual prison processes of visiting detained person, to gain access or be allowed to visit Maina in detention. Several Family and friends have made efforts to see him but all to no avail.”