President Muhammadu Buhari has finally buckled to public opinion, as he on Monday ordered the immediate sack of Mr Abdullahi Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, who was recalled to the public service last weekend.
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.
The report is to be submitted to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, before the end of work on Monday, October 23, 2017.
Maina, however, on Monday failed to report to his new office after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, launched a fresh manhunt for him, following media reports that the wanted man was around.
Maina, the media had reported, was secretly recalled to the Interior Ministry, despite that he had absconded for years after being declared wanted for alleged corruption.
Following criticisms that trailed his recall, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday directed his immediate dismissal.
At the interior ministry, Willie Bassey, the Director of Press, said he was unaware of the presence of Maina but knew of the controversies heralding his (Maina’s) return.
“I don’t know if anyone was made a director of the Human Resources Department (Maina’s new position). I’m not aware of any posting of such. Normally, when someone is about to be posted to the ministry, a letter is sent to us from the Permanent Secretary to notify us but we didn’t receive any letter of such,” the official said.
The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, on Sunday confirmed Mr. Maina’s reinstatement but said his ministry acted on a directive by the Head of Service.
It was also gathered that the Head of Service acted on the advice of the attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, for the recall.
Speaking further on Maina, the interior ministry spokesperson said, “I have seen reports concerning Maina. I’m aware that the EFCC is currently looking for him and before I can confidently talk about the matter, I’ll have to talk to the Permanent Secretary, which I’m yet to do.”
Bassey said a press statement on the matter would be released soon. He did not disclose when.
Mr. Maina was declared wanted in 2015 by the EFCC for evading invitations extended to him to explain his role over a multi-billion naira alleged fraud involving pension funds.
