Former chairman of the defunct Pension Reforms Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, has been hospitalised after slumping outside his office, according to his media assistant, Emmanuel Nweke.
In a statement, Nweke said Maina lost his balance while attempting to access the office yesterday, fell on the staircase, hit his head, and passed out.
The aide attributed the incident to complications arising from an untreated knee injury the former pension reform boss has reportedly been battling.
“The incident occurred following complications from an untreated knee injury, which caused him to lose balance and fall, resulting in his head hitting the staircase,” the statement said.He explained that medical personnel at the scene promptly administered first aid before Maina was rushed to a private hospital in Abuja for urgent medical attention.
“Dr Maina is currently receiving close medical care and remains under observation,” Nweke added. “Following a preliminary medical assessment, one of the attending doctors advised that arrangements be considered for an air ambulance medical evacuation should his condition not stabilise within a short period.”
According to Nweke, Maina’s family and medical team are closely monitoring his condition and have appealed to the public for prayers, understanding, and respect for their privacy at this critical time.
Maina was recently released from the Kuje Correctional Centre, where he served a prison sentence after being convicted of pension fraud.In November 2021, a federal high court in Abuja convicted him on charges bordering on money laundering involving more than ₦2 billion. He was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in October 2019 and pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge.
In his judgment, Justice Okon Abang held that Maina stole over ₦2 billion belonging to pensioners, “most of whom have died without reaping the fruits of their labour.”
The Court of Appeal, in May 2023, upheld both the conviction and the eight-year jail sentence. During proceedings at the trial court, Maina was at one point wheeled into the courtroom by two prison wardens, prompting the court to order the deputy comptroller of the Nigerian Correctional Service to personally examine him to determine the true state of his health.
It would be recalled that in December 2020, the former pension reform boss also slumped in court during his trial.
