The Court of Appeal, Abuja on Thursday upheld the conviction of Faisal Maina for conspiracy and money laundering.
Maina is the son of the convicted ex-chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.
Leading a three-member panel of the appellate court, Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu reduced the younger Maina’s term of imprisonment from 14 years to seven years on the grounds that he is a first-time offender.
The appellate court ruled that Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja was right to have convicted Maina.
It was of the view that being a first time offender, the trial court ought not to have handed the convict the maximum punishment under the law.
“But as a first-time offender, the trial court ought not to have handed the convict the maximum punishment under the law,” Ogakwu said.
