Arrest ex-pension boss now - Itse Sagay, Falana tell Buhari

macfranc007 October 23, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Nnenna Ibeh

- The chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption has called on President Buhari to arrest the former pension boss

- Itse Sagay said the case against Abdulrasheed Maina should not be treated lightly

- Human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, also joined in the call for Maina's arrest

The chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Itse Sagay, and a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to arrest the wanted former chairman of the then Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.

The duo said Maina who fled the country in 2015 should be arrested in line with a N2 billion fraud which he allegedly committed.

Sagay told Punch on Sunday, October 22, that the case involving Maina should not be treated lightly.

The PACAC chairman described the pension scam said to have been committed by Maina as one of the worst forms of fraud in the history of Nigeria.

Condemning Maina's recent posting to the ministry of interior by the head of service, Sagay said the allegations levelled against the ex-pension boss is a moral and criminal issue.

He said: "So, to hear that the man is in the country and somebody employed him means he is not the only criminal in the system. It means there is an accessory.

“Whoever was involved in employing him and then giving him promotion is an accessory after the fact to the crimes committed by this man if it is established that he is culpable. I don’t see why he escaped if he was not guilty.”

He further clalled on the EFCC to take necessary steps against Maina and arrest him.

"They should also investigate all those involved in the reabsorbing and promotion of this man.

“If it established that they brought him back into the civil service despite knowledge of the man’s alleged crimes, they are also accessories after the fact and should also be arrested and prosecuted," Sagay said.

Also reacting to Maina's recent appointment, human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana said the federal government must redeem itself by arresting the former pension boss immediately.

Falana said: “Mr. Maina was declared wanted by the EFCC because of his indictment in a pension scam. Now that he has been located, the EFCC has a duty to charge him without any further delay.

“The head of service and interior minister who shielded him from prosecution ought to be charged with aiding and abetting the felon.

“Those who recalled and promoted the fugitive ought to be sanctioned by President Buhari to serve as a deterrent to others who may wish to sabotage the war against corruption."

NAIJ.com earlier reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has launched a fresh manhunt for the wanted ex-pension boss.

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The EFCC announcement followed the news of Maina's reappointment and promotion by the head of service.

The commission said the ex-pension boss is still a fugitive.

The commission's spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said the EFCC is still after Maina who is also on the wanted list of the International Police (INTERPOL).

The EFCC stage a walk against corruption - on NAIJ.com TV