The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has firmly dissociated itself from the controversial appointment of convicted pension fraudster, Abdulrasheed Maina, as a “Patron” of its Garki Branch in Abuja, describing the move as disgraceful and a serious affront to the integrity of the legal profession and the nation’s anti-corruption efforts.
Maina, a former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms who was convicted and jailed for embezzling over N2 billion in pension funds, was recently honoured by the NBA Garki Branch with a “Rule of Law and Courage Award” at an event held in Asokoro, Abuja.
During the ceremony, he was also adorned with a muffler bearing the inscription, “Patron, NBA Garki Branch,” sparking widespread outrage.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday and signed by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, the association condemned the action of the branch and announced that disciplinary measures would be taken against its chairman, Anthony Ojo, who was accused of orchestrating the appointment without due authorization.
“The purported appointment not only paints the legal profession and the NBA in a bad light but also makes a mockery of the government’s fight against corruption,” Osigwe said.
He warned that celebrating or endorsing individuals convicted of corruption amounts to condoning criminality and undermines public confidence in the justice system.
Osigwe stressed that the NBA, as the conscience of the legal profession, would not allow its platforms to be used to sanitize the image of individuals found guilty of serious economic crimes.
The controversy deepened following remarks reportedly made by Maina at the event, where he called for renewed investigations into the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Maina claimed he was unfairly targeted by powerful interests within the Muhammadu Buhari administration, insisting that his alleged expertise in recovering public funds was ignored and that he was innocent of the crimes for which he was convicted.
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Maina was convicted in 2021 by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, who sentenced him to eight years’ imprisonment for laundering ₦2 billion in pension funds.
In his judgment, the court described Maina’s actions as “sordid, immoral, and morbid,” noting that his fraudulent activities caused untold hardship to pensioners, many of whom reportedly died while awaiting their entitlements.
In the same case, Maina’s company was also convicted, while his son, Faisal Maina, was handed a 14-year jail sentence for related offences. By 2024, the federal government had secured the forfeiture of all 23 properties linked to Maina, including a property reportedly purchased with $1.4 million in cash.
Although the circumstances surrounding his release remain unclear, close associates confirmed that Maina quietly returned home in February 2025 after completing his jail term. The NBA Garki Branch event marked one of his first public appearances since then.
In response to the backlash, the NBA has directed Anthony Ojo to immediately withdraw Maina’s appointment as patron and to desist from making public statements concerning Maina’s pending appeal before the Supreme Court.
The association reiterated its commitment to upholding professional ethics, the rule of law, and the fight against corruption, emphasizing that any attempt to rehabilitate the public image of convicted persons through the NBA would not be tolerated.