There are indications that President Buhari may summon the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, over the recall and posting of Maina.
It was gathered that the report which Mrs Oyo-Ita submitted yesterday to the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, had provided some clues warranting other explanations by Malami and Dambazau.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a text message to our correspondent last night, only stated that Oyo-Ita’s report was being studied.
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“I have confirmation that the head of service of the federation, Mrs Oyo-Ita, has brought the report on the re-engagement of Abdulrasheed Maina as directed by the president.
This is being studied as other reports are being awaited,” he said.
Shehu did not specify those to provide “other reports” but a source hinted that “for now, the AGF and the interior minister need to explain their own sides of the story to the president. Any other official linked to the thing will also be invited for explanations.”
‘AGF facilitated Maina’s reinstatement’
A top presidency source revealed that the AGF prevailed on the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) to reinstate Maina.
The source, who asked not to be named, told our correspondent that the Attorney-General relied on a Federal High Court injunction which restrained Maina’s arrest in 2013.
According to him, “It is the responsibility of the Attorney-General to prevail on any agency of government to obey court orders.”
Sources in the Head of Service of the Federation’s office also told Daily Trust last night that Mrs. Oyo-Ita assured her staff that she had absolutely nothing to do with either the recall or reposting of Maina. The sources said much pressure was brought to bear on the Head of Service by “top officials of the Presidency, the Ministry of Justice and the Interior Ministry” to recall and repost Maina but that she never succumbed to the pressure.
The reason for the pressure, the source said, is to help Maina to launder his public service record because he intends to contest for Governor of his home state of Borno in 2019. The sources said the plan was for Maina to be recalled and reposted, after which he will resign from the civil service after a few weeks, join the ruling APC and begin his quest for the governorship.
When contacted, the AGF’s spokesman, Othman Salihu Isah, said he was not aware of the letter of reinstatement, explaining that he had been out of Abuja.
FCSC effected reinstatement
The FCSC approved the reinstatement of Maina, according to documents seen by Daily Trust.
One of the documents with reference number FC.4029.82/VOL.III/179 dated 18 September, 2017, signed by one Mustapha L. Sulaiman and addressed to the HOCSF Mrs Oyo-Ita as well as Mr Maina conveyed the approval of his reinstatement after a meeting of the FCSC on August 16.
“The FCSC at its meeting held on Wednesday, 16th August, 2017 considered the letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the recommendations of the Senior Staff Committee (SSC) of the Ministry of Interior on the disciplinary case against Alhaji Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, Deputy Director (Administration), Salary Grade Level 16. The FCSC, therefore, approved the reinstatement of the Officer into the Service with effect from 21st February, 2013 (being the date he was earlier dismissed from Service). The FCSC also approved for the Officer to sit for the next promotion examination to the Post of Director (Administration), SGL. 17,” it stated.
EFCC seals Maina’s house
The spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, told Daily Trust that Maina remains on the wanted list of the anti-graft agency. Sources told Daily Trust that the commission had submitted a request to the Ministry of Interior notifying it of the charges against Maina even before news of his disengagement circulated.
The EFCC also raided and sealed a house said to be owned by Maina on No. 10 Amisi Musa Street, Jabi, Abuja.
When Daily Trust reporters visited the house yesterday, sources said that EFCC operatives left the place ‘few minutes ago’ after marking it. The sources also hinted that another house alleged to be owned by Maina located on No. 12, Road 11, Kado Estate would also be sealed by the EFCC.
The EFCC had declared Maina wanted for offences bordering on Procurement Fraud and Obtaining by False Pretence.
Maina is allegedly complicit in the over N2bn Pensions Scam in the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
Maina stayed away from office
The former PTFP chairman stayedaway from office yesterday, even though he resumed duty last week.
Our reporter who was at the ministry of interior up till closing time observed that there was apprehension among staff, as many of them refused to talk.
The secretary at the office of Director of Human Resources, where Maina was supposed to occupy, confirmed that he was not at his duty post, but declined further comment.
The ministry’s Director of Press, Willie Bassey, told our reporter that he would make no comment as the statement confirming the sack of the embattled ex-pension boss by President Muhammadu Buhari was already in the news.
Lawyers back Maina’s disengagement
In his reaction, the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Austin Alegeh (SAN) stated that the president has the powers to seek the disengagement of Maina through the proper process. He said the most important thing is how the directive is carried out.
“If the president believes that the man who was declared wanted by the EFCC cannot just be brought in through the backdoor, he has an overbearing right to do the correct thing,” he said.
Anti-corruption lawyer, Abeny Mohammed (SAN) said if the president has found Maina’s appointment irregular, and he is being investigated by the EFCC, he is right to order his removal. He added that even if Maina challenges the decision in court, he would not succeed.
He however charged the president to do more to bring members of the executive accused of corruption to book if he is to win public confidence on the anti-corruption war.
Ahmed Raji (SAN) said if the allegations border on gross misconduct or have weighty allegations, any senior civil servant can be removed without being given a hearing.
“The fact that the president has directed does not mean it will be done anyhow. It will still have to follow relevant rules. That is left for the bureaucrats to handle. They will look at the extant rules and follow the quickest means,” he said.
A law lecturer, Daniel Bwala, said the directive should be viewed within the context of the powers of the president and the civil service rules.
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