Maina: Over sixty-six accounts used to embezzle Pensions Fund - Malami

This comes amid growing criticism that has rocked the Buhari-led administration following the reinstatement of an embattled former chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Pension’s Reforms, Mr Abdulrasheed Maina.

Malami disclosed this on a Lagos-based television programme last Thursday.

“Over 66 accounts were used in pension fraud-associated transactions. There exist 12 pending court cases that are related to the pension fund fraud. Investigations have been ongoing overtime and serious recoveries, involving about 270 or more assets, involving house and automobiles were recovered.

“There is a very strong allegation that about 217,000 ghost pensioners exist within the system. And, you are equally aware that high profile individuals, inclusive of political office holders, senior civil servants, the military, the police are equally alleged to be part of the syndicate relating to pension.”

The Justice Minister also explained that the reinstatement of the embattled former pensions’ boss was an idea conceived by his (Maina’s) lawyers and brought to his office.

“As at October 5, 2017, an issue relating to the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina was an issue that was in the process in the Office of the Attorney-General relating to a request that was made by his lawyers sometime back in April.

“Arriving at a decision like this, some legal processes come into play. The first process was a judgment presented by his lawyer on account of which he had sought the intervention of the Attorney General for his reinstatement.

“And, in the first process, thereafter, was a request from the office of the public service of the Federation, seeking information to certain enquiries that were met and, thereafter, there was equally a factor relating to a pending court case in the National Industrial Court in respect of which you equally have to factor in mind before arriving at a decision.”

Malami further added that the process was yet to be concluded in his office.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Maina wanted for alleged N2 billion pensions biometric scam in November 2015, in a 24-count bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining money under false pretence.

Maina subsequently disappeared until October 2017, to take charge as acting director in the Ministry of Interior. His return sparked outrage nationwide.

Consequently, Buhari sacked Maina on October 23 and ordered the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita to investigate his reinstatement.

She has since submitted a report to the president, wherein she distanced herself from his reinstatement and said that she advised President Buhari against reinstating the former pensions’ boss.

Meanwhile, Maina has released a statement through his lawyer to deny accusations of fraud and wrongdoing and said that contrarily to the widely held opinion, that he did not embezzle money from the Pensions’ Fund. He added that the Federal Government were the one owing him money and dared the EFCC to open a public inquiry into the alleged pensions’ fraud.

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