President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the immediate disengagement from service of Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms.
In a memo to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the President equally demanded a full report of the circumstances of Maina’s recall and posting to the Ministry of Interior.
A statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Mr. Femi Adeshina said that the was to be submitted to the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari before the end of work on Monday, 23 October, 2017.
Maina had reportedly been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a pension fraud scheme amounting to more than N100 billion.
He had been investigated and invited by the Senate, but ignoring the panel, he sued the Senate and the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and thereafter went into hiding after being declared wanted by the police.
He was suspected to be in the United Arab Emirates, from where he had been lobbying to stay in the good graces of the Buhari-administration.
It was reported a week ago that the former pension boss has been recalled and promoted to the position of Director in the Human Resources Department of the Ministry of Interior by the Buhari-administration.
The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, has also confirmed Maina’s resumption as Acting Director in his ministry.
The confirmation came in a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the minister, Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, on Sunday.
Osaigbovo, however, debunked media reports that his principal was one of those responsible for Maina’s “reinstatement”.
“Maina was posted few 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 retirements 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,” he said.
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