Kaduna/Nigeria: The foremost Human Rights Organisation in Nigeria, has called for the arrest and prosecution of former Chairman of pension reform board, Mr Abdulrsheed Maina, and had vehemently called for his arrest and prosecution for absconding from the public service.
In a press statement, released on Monday, the CDHR who earlier in the day condemned the purported reinstatement of Mr Maina, into the service, before the order of the president to relieve him of his new job.
The Human Right body which ended its annual general meeting on Saturday, October 22, 2017, expressed through Comrade (Barr) Malachy Ugwummadu, who was re-elected as the National President, her absolute condemnation on the initially reported case of reinstatement.
“President of CDHR, expressed his absolute condemnation of the attempt or purported, illegal, corrupt and unacceptable reinstatement of Maina into the public service of the federation in whatsoever capacity and for whatever reason. Such reinstatement is not only illegal, but grossly in contravention with the extant Public Service Rules”.
The organization called such an attempt to reinstate him has the potentials of eroding the acclaimed fight against corruption.
“Such unfortunate imagination or actual reinstatement has the potentials of completely eroding the acclaimed fight against corruption and would clearly justify the lack of sincerity in the crusade against corruption.”
The CDHR reminded the government of the previous declaration of Mr. Abdulrsheed Maina, former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, has been a fugitive wanted by the EFCC for charges bordering on procurement fraud involving about N2b, money laundering and official corruption in relation to the notorious pension funds scam.
“Maina’s reinstatement, imaginary or purported, is quite strange; there must be prosecution not reinstatement without trial or exculpation by a court of competent jurisdiction; the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights therefore demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr. Maina. We at CDHR must ensure that nothing short of immediate arrest and full prosecution of Maina by the EFCC or any relevant authority is done, we shall not relent until this impunity, rascality, illegality and absolute aberration is prevented from being actualized.
Below is the full Communiqué.
Monday 23rd October, 2017.
COMMITTEE FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS (CDHR): CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE ARREST AND PROSECUTION OF MR. ABDULRSHEED MAINA, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE PENSION REFORM TASK TEAM WHO HAD ABSCONDED FROM PUBLIC SERVICE
Comrade (Barr) Malachy Ugwummadu, the National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), the foremost Human Rights organisation in Nigeria, has vehemently condemned the purported reinstatement of Mr. Abdulrsheed Maina, former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team into the public service of the federation and the unholy transfer of this fugitive to the Ministry of Interior.
Speaking on Saturday 22nd October, 2017, at the end of the Annual General Conference of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights held at Hamdala Hotel, Kaduna, Comrade Malachy who was just re-elected as the President of CDHR, expressed his absolute condemnation of the attempt or purported, illegal, corrupt and unacceptable reinstatement of Maina into the public service of the federation in whatsoever capacity and for whatever reason. Such reinstatement is not only illegal, but grossly in contravention with the extant Public Service Rules; such unfortunate imagination or actual reinstatement has the potentials of completely eroding the acclaimed fight against corruption and would clearly justify the lack of sincerity in the crusade against corruption.
By Regulation 030404 of the Public Service Rules, the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office is obligated to interdict an officer against whom a serious case such as the one against Maina has been instituted. He shall be placed on half salary pending the outcome of investigation or prosecution. By Regulation 030405 of the same Rules, such an officer who is under interdiction or suspension is obligated to notify his or her permanent secretary of his intention to leave his station. He however cannot leave the country without the express approval of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. He is also obligated to disclose his whereabout otherwise he will be considered to have been absent from duty without leave. Certainly, none of these happened.
Recall that Mr. Abdulrsheed Maina, former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, has been a fugitive wanted by the EFCC for charges bordering on procurement fraud involving about N2b, money laundering and official corruption in relation to the notorious pension funds scam. Mr. Maina was involved in a 24-count charge before a Federal High Court bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence. Maina absconded and the EFCC declared him wanted, even though his counsel denied, any invitation by EFCC. Maina was reportedly dismissed by the Head of Service for allegedly absconding from duty. It is believed that Maina has since been living in the United Arab Emirate.
Pursuant to the Public Service Rules, a public officer alleged or indicted of a criminal offence would be suspended and placed on interdiction, on half salary, pending the determination of the trial in court; such officer may only be reinstated if found innocent or exculpated, discharged and acquitted of the charge(s), then he could resume his duty and his entitlements could be paid. But where he is found guilty, he shall be dismissed. Maina’s reinstatement, imaginary or purported, is quite strange; there must be prosecution not reinstatement without trial or exculpation by a court of competent jurisdiction; the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights therefore demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr. Maina. We at CDHR must ensure that nothing short of immediate arrest and full prosecution of Maina by the EFCC or any relevant authority is done, we shall not relent until this impunity, rascality, illegality and absolute aberration is prevented from being actualised. We shall mobilise our energy and resources to put a stop to this one; not again. Imagine the plight of many pensioners, senior citizens, most of them may have passed on without receiving their entitlements after several years of dedicated service to fatherland, no thanks to the fraud and scam in the Pensions Fund allegedly siphoned by Mr. Maina and his accomplices.
No explanation can justify the illegality of attempting to reinstate a public officer who had unjustifiably absconded from duty for a period spanning over 2 to 3 years. No justification for reinstating a public officer standing trial on criminal charges and had absconded from trial for years.
Comrade (Barr) Henry Peter Ekine,
Publicity Secretary, CDHR
