The Senate has set up a committee to probe the recall of the former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, by the government despite the alleged case of financial fraud hanging on his neck.
The Senate set up the committee following a motion to that effect by Senator Isah Misau (Bauchi-APC) at the plenary session on Tuesday.
Drawing attention to the matter, he said it was necessary to consider the recall of Maina as a matter of urgency.
He said, “It is only Mr. President that is talking about corruption and the people around him are giving cover to corrupt people.”
After deliberation at the session, it was agreed that the matter should be probed.
The Senate set up a committee made up of the chairmen and vice-chairman of committees on Interior, Judiciary, Anti-corruption and Public Service Establishment to probe the matter.
Specifically, the committee will determine the circumstances surrounding Maina’s return to the country and how he was reinstated to the service and got promoted to the post of Director after dismissal.
Different legislators contributed to the debate.
Olusola Adeyeye, Osun-APC stressed that those involved in the recall of Maina should not be spared.
He said: “As far as we know, a warrant of arrest was issued against him. So if he will return to Nigeria, he will have to answer charges against him…
“Tragically, not only did he return, he returned to an elevated position. This is an insult to all civil servants who are doing their work diligently. For me it’s a sad moment. We cannot be saying we are fighting corruption and continue to allow this.”
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Buhari fires Maina, queries Head of Service
In his contribution, Senator Aidoko Ali, also questioned the involvement of the Attorney General in the controversial reinstatement.
“Maina is not the issue but the person who returned him. The AGF must be held responsible for this. This is not the first time he is doing it. He keeps writing letters as if there is no rule of law. He has a history of writing letters all over the place. Mr. President must tell us what he’ll do to the Attorney General,” he said.
Seantor Dino Melaye, Kogi-APC, also spoke in the same vein.
“Mr. President, time after time, the Attorney General has abused his office.
“We shouldn’t be talking about Maina, he didn’t get himself back. We should be talking about the AGF. If the law officer has his hands stained then all of us in this nation are in a state of higgledy-piggledy.
“Mr. President meant well but he is surrounded by cankerworms and caterpillars who are bent on bringing this nation down.
“Enough is enough. The man can run us into a constitutional crisis capable of bringing this nation down.”
Senator Sam Anyanwu, Imo-PDP, said: “I got a call from UK if this is happening in Nigeria. We are discouraging the civil service. How was he smuggled into the country? We must invite AGF to plenary to tell Nigerians. This issue must be brought to the public domain.”
