Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman
of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says those offering
protection to Abdulrasheed Maina, ex-chairman of Pension Reform Task Team
(PRTT), have made it difficult for the agency to arrest him.
Magu, who did
not disclose the identity of the persons allegedly protecting Maina, absolved
himself of any blame in connection to the initial escape of Maina.
In 2013,
Maina fled the country after the EFCC declared him wanted over alleged pension
fraud.
The top civil
servant returned to the country under controversial circumstances and was
reinstated as a director in the ministry of interior.
President
Muhammadu Buhari ordered his dismissal and demanded a probe.
Speaking when
he featured on Sunrise Daily, a programme on Channels Television, Magu
described Maina’s reinstatement as “devastating”.
He said the
anti-graft agency would not spare anyone involved in it.
“We would go
after everybody who is involved. I am telling you, we will not spare anybody,”
Magu said.
“He has
people who are protecting him and that has made it difficult for us to get him
arrested. You can imagine, he was promoted. It is devastating, it is beyond my
understanding.”
When asked if
he knew the whereabouts of Maina, he said: “Of course if I knew why would I be
appealing to Nigerians to give us support.
“We are
determined to get to the root of this matter. That’s why we have renewed the
investigation. We will retrieve all property or whatever must have been stolen
from public funds.
“This is something
that we have done as far back as 2011. The matter has been in court, and Maina
was also charged before the court. He was arraigned in absentia. I assure you,
we will get him sooner or later. The national assembly is supporting us. We are
collaborating and we are also giving them support. We have no problem with
national assembly.”
Magu said the
support from other security agencies was not satisfactory, while calling on
them and other Nigerians to give more support to the anti-corruption fight.
“There are
some support, synergy, cooperation from time to time but it is not satisfactory
because every security agency has some responsibilities in the fight against
corruption,” he said.
“I want us to
be fully committed in the fight against corruption because the greatest enemy
of Nigeria today is corruption and the corrupt people are now celebrating.
“The way the
media and other Nigerians can help us is to give us information to get Maina
arrested.”
Source: The Cable
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