Former Chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Team (PPRT), Abdulrasheed Maina has taken the bull by the horn, calling the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), to an open debate on the allegations against him.
The former Chairman who spoke through his lawyer, Sani Katu, insist on his innocence in the N2.1billion pension fund said to be missing and also alleging that the Federal Government owes him N159 billion based on the whistleblowing policy percentage.
“In 2011, we stopped the stealing of N300 million daily from police pensions. Also, in 2011, we stopped the stealing of N1.04 billion monthly from police pension allocations. Same 2011, we were able to stop the yearly stealing of N52.5 billion at the Head of Service pension.
“It would interest you to know that between 2011 and 2012, the PRTT recovered cash and asset worth N1.63 trillion, which has been with the EFCC.
“Recalled that some pensioners petitioned the National Assembly to ensure that EFCC produced these recoveries so that Nigerians will know.
“Nigerians are not stupid and cannot be deceived. They want to take our attention away from all these recoveries because they have repeatedly failed to account for them.
He also claimed that a prominent lawyer, based in Lagos, also bought one of the houses that he seized from pension fraudsters.
Maina Controversies Timeline
Prior to his dismissal as the PPRT Chairman, Maina has been involved in several controversies since his appointment in 2010.
In 2012, he was accused of leading a massive pension fraud scheme, which resulted to missing of over N100billion.
Based on the allegations, he was invited by the Senate Joint Committee on Public Service and Establishment and State and Local Government to provide explanation for the missing funds, he refused to honour the invitation.
He was re-invited up to six times which he again refused to appear, the Senate then issued a warrant of arrest against him and ordered the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to arrest him.
Mr Maina then sued the Senate and the Police for declaring him wanted, went into hiding and was recommended for dismissal by the Federal Civil Service Commission.
In March 2013, he filed a suit of N1.5billion compensation in a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, for denial of fair hearing, injustice, persecution and psychological trauma against him and his family.
On July 21, 2015, he was charged by the EFCC before a Federal High Court on a 24-count charge bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretense.
Still at large, he was alleged to have been recalled by the Head of Service as recommended by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in October 2017.
He was reinstated and given promotion to Director, Human Resources, in Ministry of Interior.
The Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita later said the reinstatement of Maina did not come from her office.
The event of his reinstatement has made an ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives to summon the AGF, IGP Idris Ibrahim, Mrs Oyo-Ita, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and the Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim, Magu.
They are to appear before the Reps on November 23 and 24.
