The Senate has commenced investigation of the circumstances surrounding the return of embattled ex-Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, and his reinstatement into the civil service and subsequent deployment to the Ministry of Interior as a director.
The lawmakers at the plenary on Tuesday took turns to condemn those in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who they said were rubbishing the anti-corruption campaign of the government. They queried how and on whose directives the fugitive, who is wanted by the EFCC on fraud allegations, was he brought back to the civil service.
They asked why someone who absconded from service as assistant director could be discreetly reinstated as director. They therefore set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter. Maina, who has been accused of complicity in a N2bn fraud, has gone into hiding.
The fugitive, who is still on the wanted list of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for the alleged offence, went into hiding soon after news that the anti-graft agency had launched a manhunt for him became public.
The Senate, therefore, mandated its Committee on Public Service and Establishment to investigate the matter with the following terms of reference:
• The circumstances of how Mr. Maina got into the Country.
• How Mr. Maina was reinstated into Public Service And:
• How Mr. Maina got promoted to the level of Director.
• Sen. Akpan Bassey adds that the Committees on Interior and Anti-Corruption should be included to the Committee carrying out the investigation.
