He worked as an interpreter for the Northern Nigeria colonial government from 1895 to 1913, when he was appointed Chief of the Margi District in Bornu.

In 1958, he published Labarin Maimaina Na Jega, Sarkin Askira, a memoir about his early career as an interpreter.

His father, Yerima Abdu, was the grandson of the chief of Gimbana, Abdussalam, and a descendant of Abdullahi dan Fodio, the founder of the Gwandu Emirate.

His mother, Salamatu, was the daughter of the chief of Lokoja, Abbega, a Marghi man who was noted traveller who had accompanied Dr. Heinrich Barth on his exploration of West Africa.

McClintock had been directed by Frederick Lugard, Governor of Northern Nigeria, to contact Fadl-Allah, a son of the Sudanese warlord Rabeh az-Zubayr, who was the ruler of Bornu.

Afterwards, Mai Maina assisted in relocating the town of Mafoni to a site slightly south of the old one, where a new settlement was constructed.

Soon after, the first colonial political officers in the Bornu province, namely W P Hewby, Captain G C R Mundy, and Mr. Burdett, arrived in Mafoni.

According to Mai Maina, upon hearing this, he immediately went to the Shehu's 'nearest confidants' and warned them against rebelling against the British, arguing that even Rabeh had failed to defeat them.

In 1913, the Resident of Bornu, Hewby, with whom Mai Maina had worked closely, retired and returned to Britain.

Refusing this demotion, Mai Maina resigned his position as chief and retired to Potiskum in Fika to become a trader.

[1]: 18 In 1921, after the boundary between the Bornu and Yola provinces was adjusted, a new district was created, and Mai Maina was appointed its chief.

[6] In 1958, Mai Maina published the first volume of Labarin Maimaina Na Jega, Sarkin Askira, a memoir about his early career as an interpreter.