The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami , Head of Service of Federation , Winifred Oyo-Ita , Minister of Interior , Abdulrahman Danbazzau and Acting Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Joseph Oluremi Akande have all denied their involvement in reinstatement of the former head of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.
They made this denial while giving their statements under oath before the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee Investigative Hearing on the disappearance, reappearance, and promotion of Maina at National Assembly in Abuja.
Malami told the lawmakers that as at Oct 5, 2017, Maina’s work was work in progress and not concluded, therefore, his letter of his reinstatement couldn’t have emanated from me. He, however, denied ever issued such letter.
Malami stated that Maina gave useful information to his office which was shared with security agencies, leading to the discovery of billions of looted pension funds and physical assets.
Giving her own statement the Head of Service said that she decided to hold on to the letter based on the perception that reinstating Maina would have a negative impact on the anti-corruption fight of the Buhari-led administration.
“I decided to hold on to the letter and without giving an order for reinstatement, the Ministry of Interior decided to reinstate him which we got to hear in the media.
“I still have the originals of the letters with me, and there was no time I issued an order for Maina’s reinstatement. And normally, there is no civil servant that can be reinstated without the express directive of the Head of Service “, Ita stated.
The Interior Minister, Abdulrahman Danbazzau told the committee that his role as minister is purely policy-oriented, and has nothing to do with reinstatement or promotion.
“My role as minister was on a policy matter that has to do with public safety and internal security and also chair anything that has to do with board that establishes prison, Immigration civil defense and Federal fire service” he stated.
On his own part Maina’s lawyer, Barrister Mohammed Katung told the panel that Maina was never dismissed as he remained active in service to the government despite his physical absence from the country.
He revealed that a total of 23 official files were sent to him and treated as at last month adding that he also received his salaries and emoluments.
However, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Engineer Magaji who is at the epicenter of the controversy and carried out the said reinstatement of Maina was nowhere to be seen at the hearing.
The minister, Danbazzau told the panel that he ( permanent secretary ) went on a sick leave and was be back soon.
The acting Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Joseph Oluremi that the office of the Attorney General of the Federation initiated the letter and was subsequently acted upon by the Ministry of Interior and made the recommendation of his reinstatement.
“The delivery of the letter is the duty of the Head of Service and if the letter has not been delivered it means Maina has not been reinstated. That is the only letter Maina will take to the Head of Service and the HoS will process it. “It is either to post him back to the ministry of interior or to another ministry. For the Ministry of interior to use that letter informing them a letter of reinstatement is wrong” Oluremi remarked.
Also speaking at the hearing the representative of Inspector General of Police, DIG Valentine Toochukwu denied the involvement of Nigeria police providing security protection for maina adding that they don’t know anything about his disappearance and reappearance and promotion.
The chairman of the committee, Hon. Aliu Madaki Sani adjourned the proceedings until November 30 and asked the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior to appear before it unfailingly.
