The Senate has set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the secret return of Abdulrasheed Maina to the country, his reinstatement into the public service and promotion to the rank of director.
The Senate also commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for his prompt intervention in directing that Maina be sacked while also setting up a panel to investigate the dramatic development.
The resolutions of the Senate followed a point of order raised by Senator Isah Hamman Misau, who came through orders 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Order, drawing the attention of the Chamber to the newspaper reports on the return, reinstatement and promotion of Maina.
Maina who was the Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, was accused by the Police in 2012 of misappropriating N100 billion Pension funds, in connivance with some other public officials.
Sequel to this monumental financial scandal, the Federal Civil Service Commission dismissed him for allegedly absconding from duty. Thereafter, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), declared him wanted when he ran out of the country in 2015.
Most senators who contributed to the debate on the point of order, expressed concerns that some officers in the Executive were working towards the downfall of the Buhari-led federal government.
Accordingly, they called for a thorough investigation of the roles played by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami and the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, who have been fingered in the Maina saga, describing it as a national embarrassment.
The ad hoc committee mandated to investigate the matter was drawn from and comprises the chairmen and the vice chairmen of the Senate committees on Establishment and Public Service; Interior, Anti-corruption, and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
The committee was mandated to complete its assignment and report back to the apex legislative chamber within two weeks
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