Maina lands in hospital after collapsing on office staircase, aide says

Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the now-defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), has been hospitalised after collapsing on the staircase outside his office on Tuesday, according to his media aide, Emmanuel Nweke.

Nweke said the former pension boss lost his balance due to complications from a long-standing, untreated knee injury, hitting his head in the fall before losing consciousness.

“Medical personnel on site administered first aid immediately, and he was rushed to a private hospital in Abuja for urgent medical attention,” the statement said. “Dr. Maina is currently under close observation. Doctors have advised that an air ambulance evacuation may be necessary if his condition does not stabilise.”

The family and medical team are monitoring Maina’s progress closely and have appealed to the public for prayers, understanding, and respect for their privacy during this critical time.

Maina was recently released from Kuje prison, where he served time for a federal high court conviction in November 2021 for pension fraud. He was found guilty of stealing over N2 billion belonging to pensioners, many of whom had died without benefiting from the funds. His eight-year sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeal in May 2023.

The former pension reform boss has a history of health scares in the public eye. In December 2020, he collapsed in a courtroom during his trial, and prison wardens had to assist him into the proceedings. At one stage, the court directed the deputy comptroller of the correctional service to examine him to verify his health condition.