The International Police Organisation (INTERPOL), acting on a request by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a red alert on Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).
The whereabouts of Maina labelled “a wanted fugitive” by INTERPOL is not known. The anti-graft agency’s officials suspect he may have fled to hide in United Arab Emirates; but now, he would not be able to hide anywhere in the world unless he changed his identity and travel documents unrecognisably.
EFCC charged Maina at the Federal High Court on July 10, 2015, for embezzlement of N2 billion pension funds while at the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
Two weeks later, on July 21, 2015 EFCC hauled him and three accomplices before the Federal High Court on 24-count charge of fraud and obtaining money under false pretences.
The three others were in court and pleaded not guilty, but Maina fled from justice.
EFCC wrote to the Inspector-General of Police on November 18, last year to request assistance to get INTERPOL to issue a worldwide manhunt for Maina.
In response, Mr. Olusola Subair, Commissioner of Police in charge of INTERPOL, informed EFCC that its request had been processed and all the demands were met.
Subseqyuently, formalities completed, Subair informed the Acting Chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Magu, that INTERPOL had placed a red alert on Maina at its General Secretariat in Lyon, France.
The letter said: “Be informed that the Bureau has taken the necessary action on the wanted fugitive as requested with INTERPOL General Secretariat, Lyon, France.
“He has been published on the INTERPOL Red Notice accordingly,” Subair wrote.
