Maina: Arrest and arraign ex-pension boss – House of reps urges EFCC

House of reps demand the arrest and arraignment of Maina by the EFCC.

The House of Representatives has directed that the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu arrests and prosecutes the former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina.

The green chair members gave the directive in a letter via the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. M. A. Sani-Omolori.

The House charged the EFCC to “immediately arrest the former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, for prosecution “in order to serve as deterrent to others who might have corrupt tendencies”.

“The House of Representatives has already constituted an Ad-Hoc Committee charged with the responsibility of investigating the circumstances surrounding the re-surfacing, re-absorbing and subsequent elevation of Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina from the rank of Assistant Director (the position he held before he was removed in 2013, to the position of an Acting Director) and to recommend strong sanctions against any person or persons who are implicated in the scandal,” it said.

READ ALSO: AGF Malami wants open trial in Maina probe

Naija News recalls that the EFCC had earlier declared Maina wanted over his alleged involvement in the fraudulent biometric contracts through which he and former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye and two others allegedly embezzled pension funds to the tune of over N2billion.

Also, recall that on July 21, 2015, Maina was arraigned together with Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited before a Federal High Court with a 24-count charge on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence.

However, although Oronsaye and two others appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charge, Maina has since been at large.