Buhari, Adeosun, Monguno And Malami Begged Me, I Refused To Come To Nigeria -Maina Breaks Silence

Former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, has made further allegations concerning his long-running legal and political battles, claiming that senior government officials were involved in events surrounding his return to Nigeria and the handling of recovered public assets.

Maina made the claims while receiving the Rule of Law and Courage Award from the Garki Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). His remarks were contained in a video shared by TV Platinum on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Speaking at the event, Maina recounted events he said took place while he was in Abu Dhabi, involving top officials of a previous administration. “How could somebody come to Abu Dhabi? The late president, may his soul rest in peace, Muhammad Buhari was there. Kemi Adeosun was there. Babagana Monguno, the NSA was there. Abubakar Malami was there,” he said.

He claimed that the officials attempted to persuade him to return to Nigeria. “They begged me. I refused to come to Nigeria,” Maina said. According to him, further steps were taken after his refusal. “They went back, I came back to Nigeria, went and made my mother insist that I must come,” he stated.

Maina linked the pressure on him to alleged recoveries made during a previous administration. “Because Jonathan had told them I recovered 1.6 trillion during his time. This can be ascertained by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She’s there. And 227 properties,” he said.

He went on to make allegations concerning the handling of those assets. “And I can tell you, allegedly, these properties were shared among Magu and his cronies, and Malami. It is one of the reasons for the fallout of Malami and Magu,” Maina said.

He urged public scrutiny of the issues he raised, stating, “So Nigerians should be asking these questions. Instead, many of this, many of that, many of this. OK, let’s talk about it.”

Addressing allegations previously made against him, Maina challenged claims that he misappropriated public funds. “They said Maina stole 2 billion naira. Which 2 billion naira? 2 billion naira that was spent before Maina was appointed?” he said.

He explained the timeline surrounding the expenditure. “Because this 2 billion naira they’re talking about, for biometric, was expended in 2010. I was appointed in 2011. So I don’t know how I came in contact with any 2 billion,” Maina stated.

Maina further alleged irregularities in his trial process, claiming he was prevented from presenting his defense. “That was why they refused me to introduce my defense in court. It was all orchestrated,” he said.

He also raised allegations concerning judicial and prosecutorial conduct in his case. “They brought a judge who was rewarded after he did what he did,” Maina said. He further claimed, “They brought a prosecutor, a normal staff of EFCC on level 12, catapulted from prosecuting me and my son to being an Apeal court judge.”

Questioning the propriety of the process, Maina added, “Can you believe? Has this ever happened in any country in the world?” He concluded his remarks by suggesting that his case was used as an example, stating, “Do this to Maina, and we’ll do, this is what we’re going to do.”

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