The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a fresh manhunt for a former head of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, despite him been newly appointed alongside with a promotion letter by the Head of Service,sting as acting director of the Department
Mr. Maina was sacked from the civil service in 2013 and was in 2015 placed on the wanted list of International Police (INTERPOL), but surprisingly on Friday Mr. Maina was secretly reinstated to the civil service, with promotion, despite being wanted for alleged corruption. Although, the Minister of Interior, Abdurahman Dambazau, earlier on Sunday exonerate himself from Mr. Maina’s reinstatement, saying it was done by the Head of Service.
The October 2 letter claimed that Mr. Maina’s case was reviewed and that a decision was taken that he be reinstated. The same letter also gave his new po of Human Resources at the Ministry of Interior. Mr. Malami’s spokesperson, Salihu Othman, however said he was unaware of his boss’s role in the deal.
Mr. Maina is said to be shuttling between Kaduna and Abuja since he sneaked back into the country.Aside the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Maina’s new work place, detectives are said to have spread around the city, including a safe house that is said to have been offered Mr. Maina by one of the nation’s security agencies.
Also being closely watched by operatives are Mr. Maina’s many houses in Abuja including one EFCC sources said he bought in June 2015 for a massive $2 million cash. The EFCC is also said to be deeply angry at how someone that was put on the wanted list of INTERPOL could be helped by government officials to sneak back into the country and then rewarded with a promotion to higher office.
The commission first wrote the Inspector General of Police in November 2015, a few days after Mr. Magu assumed office, asking for Mr. Maina’s name to be flagged by Interpol.
However, the letter was declared missing by the office of the Commissioner in charge of Interpol at the Force Headquarters, making the commission to make the request again.
On January 12, 2016, Interpol wrote to the EFCC again requesting for additional details to enable it publish the red alert. EFCC replied the letter, providing the details requested.
However, a search for Mr. Maina’s name on the Interpol website returned no record.
