Sagay, Falana Call For Maina’s Arrest As Dambazau Confirms His Reinstatement

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay and prominent human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana have called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the ex-chairman of the defunct Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.

Maina fled the country in 2015 following his indictment for allegedly perpetrating fraud to the tune of N25 billion and was upon his return, posted to the Ministry of Interior based on the recommendation of the Head of Service, Mr. Winifred Oyo-Ita.

Speaking with journalists on Sunday, Sagay said Maina’s case should not be treated lightly based on the gravity of the offence he allegedly committed as according to him, the pension scam remained one of the worst fraud ever known to mankind.

“This man was accused of embezzling millions of naira meant for pensioners who had spent their lives serving this country. One man took the money they should rely on in their declining years, subjecting them to misery and hopelessness.

“This is a moral and criminal issue. So, to hear that the man is in the country and somebody employed him means he is not only the criminal in the system. It means there is an accessory.

“Whoever was involved in employing him and then giving him promotion is an accessory after the fact to the crimes committed by this man if it is established that he is culpable. I don’t see why he escaped if he was not guilty,” Sagay said.

The PACAC boss added: “The EFCC should not just say they are aware; they should take action. The EFCC should now arrest him, interrogate him and if they can establish a case, prosecute him. They should also investigate all those involved in the re-absorption and promotion of this man.

“If it is established that they brought him back into the civil service despite knowledge of the man’s alleged crimes, they are also accessories after the fact and should also be arrested and prosecuted.”

While reacting to the unfolding saga, Falana similarly urged the EFCC to charge Maina with the alleged N100 billion pension fraud for which he was declared wanted for years.

He also called for the immediate prosecution of the Minister of Interior, Abdulraham Dambazau and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita for allegedly protecting and shielding Maina from being prosecuted.

Falana said: “Mr. Maina was declared wanted by the EFCC because of his indictment in a pension scam. Now that he has been located, the EFCC has a duty to charge him without any further delay.

“The Head of Service and the interior minister who shielded him from prosecution ought to be charged with aiding and abetting the felon.

“Those who recalled and promoted the fugitive ought to be sanctioned by President Buhari to serve as a deterrent to others who may wish to sabotage the war against corruption.”

Meanwhile the Minister of Interior, retired Lt. Gen Abduralman Dambazau has confirmed the resumption of  Mr. Abdulraman Maina as an Acting Director in his ministry.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Press Secretary to the minister, Mr. Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, Dambazau however debunked reports that he was responsible for Maina’s reinstatement.

“Maina was posted four days ago to the Ministry of Interior by the office of the Head of Service on an Acting capacity to fill a vacancy created following the retirement of the Director heading the Human Resources Department in the Ministry.

“For the avoidance of doubt, issues relating to discipline, employment, re-engagement, posting, promotion and retirement of federal civil servants are the responsibility of the Federal Civil Service Commission and office of the Head of Service of the Federation.

“No minister exercises such powers as erroneously expressed in this publication. It is understood that Maina’s last posting was with the Ministry of Interior and that is probably why he was re-posted back to the ministry,” Dambazau said in the statement.

In 2012, the Nigeria Police accused Maina, who was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan as Chairman of the task force to check the corruption in the country’s pension system in 2010 of misappropriating over N100 billion pension funds alongside four other culprits.

In 2015, he was arraigned in absentia by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who declared him wanted after he was dismissed by the Civil Service Commission for allegedly absconding from duty.

Mr. Wilson Uwajaren, the spokesman of the EFCC says the former Pension Task Force Chairman remains on its watch list as it has launched an immediate manhunt for his arrest.