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‘Sensational, Malicious’ — Pension Fraud Convict Maina Threatens Legal Action.
Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms who was convicted and jailed over the laundering of about ₦2 billion in pension funds, has threatened legal action against an online newspaper for referring to him as a “pension thief.”....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a letter dated Monday, Maina’s lawyer, Emmanuel Ekwe, accused the publication of defamation and demanded a retraction and public apology within seven days, warning that failure to comply would result in a lawsuit.
The threat followed a report stating that Maina, who was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment in 2021, recently received an award from the Garki Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association.
Ekwe described the report as “sensational, malicious and defamatory,” faulting in particular the repeated use of the phrase “pension thief” to describe his client.
In the letter titled “Re: Defamatory Publication Concerning Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina – Demand for Retraction, Apology and Publication of Corrective Statement,” the lawyer demanded the immediate withdrawal of the report across all platforms, a clear and unreserved apology published with equal prominence, a corrective statement noting that Maina lawfully completed his prison sentence, and a written assurance that such descriptions would not be repeated.
The letter warned that failure to meet the demands within seven days would trigger legal proceedings seeking damages, injunctive reliefs and associated costs.
Following public outrage over the reported award, the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association distanced itself from the action taken by the Garki Branch.
NBA President, Afam Osigwe, condemned the award and announced disciplinary measures against the branch chairman, Anthony Ojo, describing the move as damaging to the image of the legal profession and a setback to the anti-corruption fight.
Maina was appointed under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan to reform the pension system through biometric verification. However, investigations revealed that he diverted billions of naira using fraudulent contracts and fictitious bank accounts allegedly operated with the help of relatives.
During his trial, several of his siblings testified on how their identities were used to open accounts for illicit transactions. In November 2021, Justice Okon Abang sentenced Maina to eight years in prison, describing the case as immoral and disturbing, and noting that many pensioners suffered and died while awaiting their benefits.
Reacting to the legal threat, the publication’s managing editor said the organisation stood by its report, insisting that it would continue to report facts and hold public officials accountable.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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