DSS Arrests Faisal Maina in Abuja After Six Years on the Run, Hands Him Over to EFCC.

DSS Arrests Faisal Maina in Abuja After Six Years on the Run, Hands Him Over to EFCC.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Faisal Abdulrasheed Maina, son of former Pension Reform Task Team chairman Abdulrasheed Maina, following years on the run over a money laundering case. He has reportedly been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further action.

According to reports published by TheCable and other Nigerian media outlets on Friday, October 16, 2026, security operatives tracked Faisal to the Karsana area of Abuja after receiving intelligence indicating that he had secretly returned to Nigeria.

Faisal had reportedly been outside the country since 2020 after facing prosecution by the EFCC on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering. His arrest marks a significant development in the case, which proceeded in his absence after he reportedly failed to comply with his bail conditions.

Court Conviction and Prison Sentence

In October 2021, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Faisal on money laundering charges and sentenced him to 14 years’ imprisonment. The trial was presided over by Justice Okon Abang.

The court found that Faisal operated an account with United Bank for Africa (UBA) under the name Alhaji Faisal Farm 2. The account was linked to the alleged laundering of ₦58.1 million through transactions involving Faisal and his father between October 2013 and June 2019.

The case formed part of the broader investigation into financial transactions associated with the former Pension Reform Task Team chairman.

In November 2022, the Court of Appeal upheld Faisal’s conviction but reduced his prison sentence from 14 years to seven years. The appellate court held that the trial court had erred in imposing the maximum sentence on a first-time offender.

The conviction remained in place following the appeal.

Transfer to EFCC and Enforcement of Court Judgment

Following his arrest in Abuja, Faisal was reportedly transferred to the EFCC, the agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

His return to custody could facilitate the enforcement of the existing court judgment and the commencement of his prison term in accordance with applicable legal procedures.

However, details of the transfer and the next steps in the enforcement process should be confirmed through official statements from the relevant authorities.

As of the time of reporting, the available media accounts attributed details of the arrest to security sources. Official confirmation from the DSS and the EFCC was not established in the reports reviewed.

Background: Abdulrasheed Maina’s Pension Fund Case

Faisal’s case has drawn attention partly because of his father’s history of prosecution over the management of pension funds.

Abdulrasheed Maina, who headed the now defunct Pension Reform Task Team, was convicted in a separate case involving the diversion of pension funds and served a prison sentence.

The wider pension fund scandal attracted national attention because of its implications for public accountability, the protection of pensioners’ entitlements and the management of public resources.

Faisal’s reported arrest therefore represents another development in a long running case involving financial crime allegations and the enforcement of judicial decisions.

The next stage will depend on the actions taken by the EFCC and other relevant authorities to implement the court’s judgment and ensure compliance with due process.