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#MainaGate

#MainaGate: Maina Should Prove His Innocence In Court, Not To Buhari – Jiti Ogunye

By: Bhodemarz on November 29, 2017 / comment : 0 , , , , ,

Legal Practitioner, Mr Jiti Ogunye, has asked the embattled former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Mr Abdulrasheed Maina, to present himself before the court rather than requesting to meet with the President.
Mr Ogunye described Maina’s comments and request to meet with the president as “cock and bull stories”, as well as an attempt to evade the justice system.
He made this known on Channels Television’s Sunrise daily, in response to an exclusive interview of Maina in which he insisted that he was innocent of the allegations preferred against him.

READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Maina Breaks Silence, Begs Buhari For Chance To Prove Innocence
“Maina wants to meet with Mr Presdient over what? Do we even respect our court at all? Do we respect our judicial process? Do you know that in this country, Supreme Court justices are being tried in court? Who is he to be saying that he wants to recover money?
“Present yourself, you are a fugitive from justice. Have your day in court prove your innocence there – that is the law that I know. All this talk about I want to see the president – for what? He has seen the Attorney General of the Federation and he told us that he visited Maina to the knowledge of the National Security Adviser of Nigeria”.

Mr Ogunye, speaking further about the involvement of the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in Maina’s return and reinstatement, described the situation as a disgraceful and monumental scandal.
The AGF had denied having any involvement when he appeared before the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee, set up to investigate the case, last week.
READ ALSO: Letter For Maina’s Reinstatement Didn’t Come From My Office – AGF
He also gave a detailed report of recoveries made, as well as an existing pension fraud syndicate made up of politicians, legislators and retired civil servants, as well as Maina himself.
Mr Ogunye, however, stressed that “the AGF should concern himself with the role he played, whether legally, morally, ethically, even politically, it was correct for him to have played that role.
“In the course of his testimony before that committee, the AGF was forced to disclose that he visited Maina in Dubai.
“What is the business of the Attorney General of the Federation, visiting a fugitive from justice outside the shores of Nigeria,” he questioned.
“My presumption was that a deal was struck on how to bring Maina back into the country behind the back of Nigerians, reinstate him and then launder him back to service”.
According to Mr Ogunye, contrary to what Malami said, all fingers point at him as being at the centre of Maina’s reinstatement.
“What he said has been disproved by others including the head of service. According to them, he was the one who initiated, instigated and triggered the whole process by writing letters and issuing directives to the Federal Civil Service Commission.”
Giving a suggestion to the government on what should be done, he said rather than taking Maina seriously and having a sit down with him, the government should take itself seriously.
“The government should on the contrary, take Maina seriously by bringing Maina to justice,” he asserted.
Meanwehile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Robert Clarke, who also spoke on the breakfast show, supported the idea that Maina should be given a chance to speak with President Buhari.


Source: ChannelsTV


#MainaGate: I did not order reinstatement, promotion of Maina – AGF

By: Bhodemarz on November 24, 2017 / comment : 0 , , , ,

Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami has denied giving directives for the reinstatement of former Chairman of Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina back into the Federal Civil Service.
Maina was sacked by the Federal Civil Service Commission for absconding from his duty post.
Malami, Thursday at the Aliyu Madaki-led House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigative hearing on the disappearance, reinstatement and promotion of Maina said the letter of reinstatement did not emanate from his office because as at 5th October, 2017, Maina’s reinstatement matter was ‘work in progress’ that has not been completed.
He however said the consideration being given to Maina’s request for reinstatement was borne out of national interest that overrides individual interests
The Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau also washed his hands off the reinstatement saying the office of the Minister did not write any letter to that effect, since it was an establishment rather than policy matter which he oversees.
Dambazzau said, the Permanent Secretary Abubakar Magaji, who is on sick leave would be in the best position to address the issue.
Similarly, the   Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Winifred Eyo-Ita said she did not direct the Ministry of Interior to act on the reinstatement following a letter from the AGF requesting the reinstatement.
She said she withheld the letter that was forwarded to her desk by the FCSC in order to make further clarification because the action was against the anti-corruption stance of the government.
According to her, she formally questioned the proprietary of the Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Magaji for acting on the AGF letter without directives from the office of the HoCSF.
The acting Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Joseph Oluremi said his Commission acted on the reinstatement based on the letter from the AGF, who made it clear that legal process concerning the issue were carefully examined.
He also said it was not the duty of a Ministry to reinstate any official.
Both Eyo-Ita and Oluremi said being the chief Legal officer of rhe country, they have no basis to question the AGF notwithstanding that they are aware of the statutory responsibilities of their respective offices.
Malami, who disclosed that a multi – sectoral pension fraud syndicate is fleecing the country of N3.7b monthly, in his presentation said he got clearance from relevant security agencies and the National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana  Monguno before his meeting that was arranged through a third party with Maina in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE) where he was availed further information on recovery drive and individuals involved.
Malami absolved himself of the reinstatement of Maina saying he delegated the examination of the request by Maina’s lawyers for reinstatement to one of his subordinates.
The AGF said his minutes to correspondences between himself and the line officer in charge of the matter were about the need for the officer to present stronger evidence-based argument for the reinstatement.
Saying that he was embarrassed by media reports that he was compromised about the reinstatement issue, Malami said, “As at 5th October, 2017, the issue of Maina was still work in progress, I did not give any directive that Maina be reinstated.
“The issue of reinstatement of Maina was done with no strings attached, based on court processes and the fact that none of the parties exercised their rights of appeal, I acted in the best interest of Nigeria, not on any individual’s interest”
“The legal opinion of the AGF was anchored on my oath of office and the responsibility of the office”.
He said based on the correspondences between himself and the line officer and his minutes on the correspondences, “The letter of reinstatement of Maina couldn’t have emanated from my office.
“That letter of 21 Feb, when I was confronted with that letter by the Senate, it didn’t ring a bell at all in my memory. What I did was going back to the office to call for the file. And then arising from the file, I could confirm that there was a letter from the Miana’s lawyer.”
“I could confirm that I treated that letter in February and directed the line officer to treat it. I could confirm that the line officer revert back to a memo expressing an opinion with a draft letter, suggesting that I should direct that Maina should be reinstated.
“I could confirm that my mind was agitated over the content and the conclusion of that letter and I could confirm that I minuted on the letter of April that ‘develop further opinion to convince me that the content and conclusion of the judgement in support of the Maina’s lawyer reasonably suggests a conclusion for a consequential effect to the judgment.’”
“I could confirm that there was no further correspondence from the line office up to sometimes in May when the line officer now came up with additional memo and in that memo tried to justify the conclusion that I could direct for the reinstatement of Miana.”
“And I could equally that in that memo; reference was made to court process relating to Indutrial court in which Maina filed an action against the federal government.
“And I could confirm as well that I minuted on that memo directing the officer to make available copies of those court processes that were not made available in support of the memo and I could confirm there was no further correspondence in that regard until sometimes in October precisely on the 5th day of October when the line officer came up with a clean-up copy of the letter seeking my endorsement. In that letter, he was making reference to the previous correspondence.
“And when the correspondence and processes could not ring bell in my memory until I read the letter with the hope to reduce the situation, it was the point at which the whole media issue surrounding the matter now evolved. So, what I am saying in essence, my position is as far as Maina’s request for reinstatement was concerned, it was indeed, a work in progress as at the fifth day of October, 2017”.
He also said pension fraud was beyond Maina, stating that a syndicate that cut across all sectors, including serving and retired public officers, including members of the National Assembly was involved in the cornering N3.7b monthly from pension funds.
He said it was discovered that over 116,000 ghost workers responsible for N829m monthly spread across 29 bank accounts have been uncovered.
He disclosed that his office has commenced investigation on the pension fraud in some key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA).
“Maina was part of the syndicate until things fell apart between them, the decision I took was not about Maina but in the larger interest of Nigerians,” he added.
On his part, Maina’s counsel, Muhammed Katu said there was no need for the hearing since  the House has already adjudged Maina guilty having asked security agencies to arrest and prosecute him in its resolution.
He however said Maina is willing to attend the hearing and she’d light on the issue but is seeking protection of the House that security agencies would be prevailed upon not to arrest or harass him.
He said Maina was never dismissed because those that carried out the purported dismissal lacked the authority to do it, adding that Maina went on exile because his life was in danger.
He said Maina was still in service and working for the government, and that 23 files were recently referred to him as Acting Director.
While displaying the original copy of the letter, Katu said Maina was reinstated through a letter  signed by Dr. R.K Attahiru of the Department of Human Resources in the Interior Ministry.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris said Maina is still on its wanted list and the International Police has been placed on red alert.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Valentine Tochukwu, who represented the IGP, said there was no record of any police officer attached to Maina.
He also said Police authority has no details of pension fraud in the service.
In same vein, Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) acting Chai an Abdulahi Bako also said the Commission has no role on the disappearance or reinstatement of Maina.
The Committee said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must appear before it on the next adjourned date of 30th November, 2017.

Source: The Nation

#MainaGate: Pension ‘thieves’ framing me – Maina

By: Bhodemarz on November 01, 2017 / comment : 0 , ,

Former Chairman of Pension Reform, Abdulrasheed Maina
Embattled former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, has said that, he is being haunted for stopping N5.32bn which he alleged was being stolen monthly in the office of the Head of Service and Police Pension office alone.
Maina said, his media trial and framed up allegations were part of efforts by ‘pension thieves’ to stop him from exposing them, which is why he asked President Muhammadu Buhari to thoroughly investigate pending pension petitions, especially as Senator Kabiru Gaya said in an interview that, that the N195bn which he (Maina) was accused of stealing is in the TSA account.
Speaking through his aide, Olajide Fashikun in Kaduna on Tuesday, Maina who has been on the run said the presidential investigation is imperative to expose the real pension thieves, some of whom he alleged, are highly placed public office holders, adding that such will bring respite to starving pensioners.
Maina, who said his Task Team saved the country about N282bn from June 2010, when it was constituted, revealed that, the presidential investigation will also expose the sum of six million pounds stashed in accounts in London and the top government functionaries in different offices who are drawing the interest on the accounts.
According to him, “between the Head of Service and the Police Pension office, the two places PRTT worked, a leakage of N5.32billion was stopped per month. This is what civil servants steal monthly in the two offices out of the 99 pension offices in the country. 43 persons were arrested and handed over to the EFCC to prosecute while 222 houses were seized from them.
“As soon as Maina was driven to exile before the coming of the PTAD, N35billion was stolen in the Head of Service. The ICPC did not come out with the report. How come no body is talking about these monies? Fashikun asked.
“In the current media trial where all manners of stories have been published, there has been a lot of distortion of facts and sometimes outright blackmail, all in an attempt to paint the PRTT boss black like Lucifer”.
“After the biometric exercise, there were 71,000 genuine workers in the police pension office who needed N826million to pay them unlike N5.3billion appropriated for them annually. They were pocketing N4.2billion yearly. They devised several ingenious ways to pull these cash out. They pull out an average of N300million daily Monday to Friday. There are bank alerts to substantiate these assertions.
“There is a particular person who has 69 cloned versions of his name on the pay roll. Bank officials were in cohort. Names of dead pensioners were ‘exhumed’ from the dead and paid pension. Accounts were created with fictitious names.”
Speaking further, Maina’s aide stressed “there has been a lot of deliberate cover in a well written script to give Maina a bad name. Some of those who worked in the PRTT do ‘kabu-kabu’ to augment their survival. They were severely starved of funds, Maina’s PRTT was a clog in the wheel of so many who were looting the pensioner’s funds.
“Maina’s PRTT was brought in to sanitise a very corrupt pension system. It was the success of his pension system in the Ministry of Interior that brought him to the PRTT. Emerging evidence has shown that Maina is just a victim of corruption fighting back.
“The then Senate Committee in a bid to crucify Maina did the hatchet job, when they told the Nigerians that, he stole N195billion. Meanwhile, on 13th April 2016, former Kano Governor, Senator Kabiru Gaya, told The Sun newspaper in an interview that that money was never missing. So, why is he being tried for the money that is now confirmed not missing? According to the structure of the task force, Maina like none of them therein never had access to the pension fund and could never have taken one Naira lest over N2 billion.
“Former finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala during a Senate meeting said that Maina had no contact with funds and revealed how she froze the account where the monies recovered by Maina’s committee was kept and how she transferred the funds to the CBN. So, why will the EFCC continue to hound a man for an offence which they know he is innocent of? Maina was only the head of the team which comprised of EFCC, ICPC, DSS, NIA, office of Accountant General, Auditor General, Public Complaints Commission etc. He was the only civilian in the Task Team.
“Maina was just a victim of high power play of some powerful individuals in high places. So, for three years, Maina suffered ‘media trial’, where he has found guilty several times on the pages of newspaper.
“Despite the several facts presented before the Senate committee during the hearing, the committee chose to ignore the facts, instead, they threatened the then President Goodluck Jonathan, following which Maina was shot with five bullets wounds on the side glass of the bullet proof car Jonathan gave him”, he said.
Mr. Maina said he had “verifiable” evidence the federal pension scheme was returning to “the looting era” which his team set out to end, with an alleged 98% of pensioners denied their benefits since November, 2012.

Source: The Nation


OPINION by Simon Kolawole: Can Maina be Buhari’s turning point?

By: Bhodemarz on October 30, 2017 / comment : 0 , , ,

To cut a long story short, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina came into national limelight in 2013 when, as chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform, he was accused of perpetrating a fraud running into over N100 billion. The senate committee probing the matter invited him to testify but he refused — while regularly driving in and out of Aso Rock to demonstrate his closeness to President Goodluck Jonathan. Maina thought he was untouchable. The pressure mounted, senate issued a bench warrant and he soon ran out of the country, absconding from duty and getting dismissed from the civil service in return. The EFCC also declared him wanted.
Four years later — and two years into “change” — top officials of the Buhari administration arranged an elaborate scheme to bring Maina back to the country in a blaze of glory. He literally rode on a donkey to the shouts of “Hosanna” — if we are to believe his family, who claimed the “pension messiah” was actually invited back from exile to be part of Buhari’s Team Change. He was reinstated and promoted from deputy director to director instantly. With a little luck, he was well on his way to becoming permanent secretary. He could even become a minister, an ambassador or a governor. He could become president, why not? This is Nigeria, remember?
From all the memos that are now available in the public domain, Mr. Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation, Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazau, the minister of interior, and Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, the head of service, all participated one way or the other in formalising Maina’s reinstatement. How much President Muhammadu Buhari knew about this perfidy will continue to be a subject of speculation, but at least he quickly seized the moral high ground by ordering the sack of Maina when Premium Times, the investigative online newspaper, blew the lid. It is impossible to cut this long story short, but that is the tragicomedy in three paragraphs.
The Maina story illustrates everything that is wrong with Nigeria. Most of the ingredients for the underdevelopment of Nigeria are contained in the saga. One, wickedness in high places. After workers have served Nigeria all their youthful and productive years, they spend their old age chasing their pensions up and down. Some are owed years in arrears. The regular excuse is that there is no money to pay them. In retirement, they usually face critical health issues — high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure and such like. And, what a pity, they will have no money for treatment. Yet their pension is their right. It is their sweat, their blood. But who cares?
A pension reform chairman is accused of fraud running into billions of naira. Yet he lives in opulence, too much for a civil servant. But who cares? He is well dressed, well groomed and handsome-looking, and allegedly owns the best of mansions and all manner of property home and abroad — while the old, ragged pensioners struggle in pain and in vain, day and night, to collect their entitlements. My heart melted the day I saw a picture on the front page of Nigerian Tribune many years ago: a pensioner had collapsed and died at a verification centre, and — with his shrouded dead body serving as backdrop — the rest pensioners remained glued to the bench waiting for Godot.
The question you would ask yourself is: why on earth would anyone born of a woman see the sufferings of these old people and remain heartless? Why would anybody deny these hapless pensioners their entitlements in that old age under the guise of “no money” while stealing, wasting and mismanaging the resources? It takes a conscience seared with iron to be so callous. It takes a wicked conscience to be frolicking and gallivanting while denying workers and pensioners the legitimate reward of their sweat. Any country that treats workers and pensioners with this wickedness can never make progress. I want to be contradicted with hard evidence.
Two, the Maina story tells the story of impunity. You mean a man declared wanted by the EFCC can confidently return to the country with the help of top officials of a government that claims to be fighting corruption? You mean the police and the Department of State Service (DSS) could provide security for the fugitive? You mean he could be promoted instantly? Impunity is well captured in Yoruba language as “tani o mumi?” That is, “who the hell can touch me”? There is this air among the Nigerian elite that they can do anything and get away with it. Nobody can touch them. They kill and steal and get medals in return. Impunity is the name of the game.
When President Buhari assumed office two years ago, I wrote an article, “The One Thing Buhari Must Do” (July 5, 2015). I said if the president would have just a one-point agenda, it should be an all-out war against impunity. In place of “War against Corruption”, I proposed “War against Impunity”. There would always be corruption, I said, as there is no corruption-free country in the world. However, what gives Nigeria the gold medal is impunity. Impudence. Effrontery. The audacity with which laws are violated and corruption is implemented in Nigeria is incredible. Any country practising such impunity can never develop. I want to be contradicted with hard evidence.
The third aspect of the Maina story that captures Nigeria’s underdevelopment is shamelessness. In a civilised country, in a country where people have a sense of shame, those implicated in the scandal would have resigned by now. I am not even suggesting that they should be sacked — that is another matter entirely. I am saying on their own, having let this country down badly, they should have left government. But there is no sense of shame in Nigeria. If we had shame, Nigeria would not be where it is today. Most of the people in government are shameless. Show me a country ruled by shameless people and I will show you a doomed society. I want to be contradicted with hard evidence.
When we discuss the underdevelopment of Nigeria, it is usually the story of wickedness, impunity and shamelessness in high places. It takes absolute wickedness to see the suffering of the people and not be bothered, and continue to loot and rape with impunity and shamelessness. I am forced to ask and ask again and again: who in government really cares about the plight of Nigerians? Across the length and breadth of this country, only a few states consider payment of salaries and pensions as priority. They would rather mould graven images or go for lesser hajj or build ultra-modern governor’s lodge than meet their basic obligations to the people.
Meanwhile, Buhari’s government is beginning to lose it — as evident in the incredible attempt to hold Jonathan’s “loyalists” responsible for the recall of Maina. It is getting ridiculous. For some of us who are not interested in the silly politics between PDP and APC but are more anxious about the progress of Nigeria, it would be most catastrophic if the Maina scandal ends up as a political game. No. This cannot be treated as politics. We are discussing the present and the future of Nigeria. PDP and APC can burn to ashes for all I care. We are discussing wickedness, impunity and shamelessness in high places. Both the PDP and APC have these vices in their bones. Nobody can fool us.

Maina and Malami could well be archetypes of the kind of characters that preside over the affairs of Nigeria, from federal to state and council levels. They are everywhere. But I find it most heartbreaking that President Buhari has watched this perfidy without plucking out the culprits and crushing them. The biggest credential Buhari brought to this game was his anti-corruption resume. But in his cabinet are many ministers who ordinarily ought to be in jail as we speak. Since Buhari cannot jail them, he can at least fire them and hand them over to the EFCC. But maybe we are asking for too much. The Babachir Lawal saga remains a low point for this government. What a shame.
I have not said Maina is definitely guilty. That is the job of the courts. However, the manner of his reinstatement clearly suggests something is not right. Something is horribly wrong with those who thought they could have gone away with such treachery in this day and age. What the hell were they thinking? By the way, every administration faces a turning point. It is the point where things tip over irredeemably, where opponents, neutrals and die-hard supporters come together. The widespread reactions to the Maina saga suggest this could be the tipping point for Buhari. Many Nigerians have been too accommodating and too considerate. They are being taken for granted.
I would, therefore, leave Buhari with these words: Mr. President, your government is falling apart. You need to act fast. You came to office with a promise to change the way things are done, to give us a new direction, to heal our wounds, to belong to nobody, to belong to everybody, to make Nigerians dream again. Mr. President, go back to your inauguration speech, the speech you delivered so eloquently on May 29, 2015 at the Eagle Square, Abuja. Read the speech again, word-for-word. Reflect over it. You renewed our hopes. You made us feel it was the dawn of a new era. It has become extremely urgent for you to retrace your steps. Tomorrow may be too late.

Culled from TheScoopNG

#MainaGate: Ex-EFCC Boss, Former IGP Others Allegedly Implicated in N17bn Fraud

By: Bhodemarz on October 29, 2017 / comment : 0 , , ,

About N17billion pension cash has been traced to the dismissed chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, with a long list of highly-placed beneficiaries.
The said cash was diverted by Maina from the N24billion budgeted by the Federal Government for payment of pension liabilities through the Presidential Pension Reforms Task Team headed by Maina.
The funds were stolen in five years from 2008 to 2013 in tranches of N2.7billion and N14.374billion respectively.
While the N2.7billion was converted to personal use through the connivance of banks and family members, N14.374billion was shared by Maina and those in the chain of pension management in different Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Maina and his cohorts dipped their hands into the till under the guise of phantom biometric verification.
Those implicated in the pension funds bazaar in the Pension Task Force  Payment Vouchers Include include a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), A former Acting Chairman of ICPC, a former Inspector-General of Police, two former Heads of Service, Permanent Secretary (State House) and top directors in the civil service, 18 slush companies, some operatives of the EFCC and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Other beneficiaries included some officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), bankers, Bureau de Change owners, family members, top officers in the Budget Office and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).
The EFCC has so far filed 12 cases against 19 of those implicated, including Maina; a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye; Osarenkhoe Afe; Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited and others.
The list of the bigwigs who allegedly benefited from Maina’s benevolence was contained in a report submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation by the EFCC and the PRTT Payment vouchers for the trial of Maina by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The report titled CR: 3000/EFCC/ABJ/FAFI/VOL.1/ 238 was dated August 1, 2016 and signed by the Acting Chairman of the anti-graft commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
According to the document, Maina perpetrated the fraud through the use of the Collective Allowance System; compilation of ghost pensioners; fictitious contracts at inflated prices to both registered and non-registered companies; and fake pension verification trips.
The breakdown of the stolen N14, 374,236,846.09 cash before the pension fraud was as follows:  (I) Fictitious Contracts (N 5,761,150,608.44); (II) ghost pensioners (N829, 902, 260.40) ;( III) Collective Allowance (N1, 365,821,942.91) (IV) Payments to States Pension Boards& Others (N4, 192,825,310.99); (V) National Union of Pensioners (N 2,290,593,322.35) and VI. Association of Federal Public Service Retirees (AFPSR) N253, 390,300.
EFCC said: “The use of Collective allowance: Under this fraudulent tactic, which became very handy under Maina and the OHCSF, the Director would approve payment of purported staff of the office to one single individual. After the payment is made, the person whose account was used will withdraw 90% and hand over cash to the Director or whoever was responsible for the payment.
“Key officials of the HoCSF asked their staff and friends to purportedly register companies with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in which payments were made for contracts that were never executed; some contracts partly executed though grossly inflated and such payments diverted to the suspects.”
Some of the highly-placed public officers were also allegedly allocated estacodes for biometric verification trips without going anywhere.
Some of the fake trips covered foreign shuttles to the United States and the United Kingdom among others.
The wanted ex-PRTT doled out about N23million for a “phantom” trip to the United Kingdom as follows:
·         The Inspector-General of Police (N2,386,000);
·         A late Deputy Inspector-General of Police (N1,475,600)
·         A former Head of Service (N2,386,000)
·         Two EFCC operatives got N1,362,960 each
Also out of a N36million approved for a “fake” trip to the US by Maina’s PRTT, the following government officials were allocated estacodes:
·         The Head of Service and the Permanent Secretary in the OHCSF, who received N3, 286,000 each
·         A Director in the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (N2, 838,000)
·         The Director General of the Budget Office (N4,854,000)
·         A Director in the Budget Office (N2,895,000 )
·         Assistant Director in Budget Office (N2,045,000)
The PRTT vouchers confirmed payment of another sum of N40.6 million to some top officials for a shuttle to Atlanta in the United States to screen Nigerian pensioners.
Those who benefited were the following:
·         A former Head of Service (N4,854,000)
·         Ex-EFCC Chairman (N4,854,000)
·         Permanent Secretary State House (N4,086,000)
·         Another N2,738,000 was paid to Ex-EFCC Chairman
·         Two operatives of the EFCC got N1,482,960 and N2,638,000 respectively.
·         A staff of the NIA (N 2,638,000).
The document showed a breakdown of how pension funds were shared to finance pension verification teams to ‘South Africa, ‘Ghana’, and the 36 states’ of the federation, ‘zonal levels’ and others to siphon different sums of public funds into their banks accounts in the name of biometric verification.
Out of the N18.4million released to Maina for a trip to South Africa, the Director -General of Budget was allocated N3,056,000 .
The per diem for the trip to Ghana cost N9.1 million out of which a former Director of Defence Intelligence received N1,388,000 through his First Bank account. Two female staff of EFCC got N1,275,000 each as part of the national cake.
While those who went round the 36 states, allegedly collected N160,471,200 from Maina, a few others were paid N15,477,900 for going round the six geo-political zones of the country
The report gave the details of how Maina allegedly collaborated with former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, and two others in N2billion pension funds allegedly mismanaged for biometric contracts.
The N2billion was part of the looted N17billion cash.
The others are Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited suspected as fronts
The report added: “Mr. Oronsaye and Maina engaged the services of the following individuals to assist them in looting pension funds.
  •         Osarenkhoe Afe: (charged to court together with Mr. Maina & Oronsaye):  He is an IT consultant who introduced Innovative Solutions to the OHCSF for biometric enrolment project. He stated that, Mr. Steven Oronsaye [former Head of Service) asked him to join the Pension Reform Committee headed by Mr. Abudulrasheed Maina.
  •     Robert Ikazoboh: (Prosecution witness) He is the CEO of Innovative Solutions & Projects Ltd – a company invited by OHCSF to offer services regarding biometric enrolment exercise. He stated that he was brought in to the project by Osa Afe.
He also stated that Mr. Afe verbally instructed him to work with 2 other companies namely Uptrach and Frederick Hamilton and further instructed him as to the amount to be paid to the companies whenever he received payments.
  •  Ahmed Mazangari: (Already charged to court): He is the owner of Xangees Technologies Ltd, an information technology consultancy firm and a friend of Maina’s brother, Khalid Biu. He was ‘engaged’ by the OHCSF through Maina based on ‘word of mouth’. He was tasked with the job of computerizing the pension payroll but in the process ironically ended up inserting his own 11 fake pensioners and was used by Maina to receive N153 million for non-existing biometric contract which was withdrawn and handed over to Maina in cash after converting same to dollars through his brother, Khalid. Ahmed, his mother and company are presently standing trial. He stole N230 million as ghost pensioners’ payment from the OHCSF (including the biometric contract).
“During the course of our investigation, the following facts emerged: That Mr. Osarenkhoe Afe (Osa Afe), the owner of Fredrick Hamilton Global Ltd introduced Innovative Solutions to the OHCSF where they were awarded the contract of biometric data capture.
“That the initial contract sum was N63 million as indicated in the award letter which was paid to Innovative Solution. However, Innovative Solution requested for a contract extension of the sum of N136 million which brings the total contract sum to N199 million (both initial and additional amount).
“That from the analysis of Innovative Solution’s bank statement, it was discovered that the total sum of N224.85million was fraudulently paid to them showing an excess payment of 25million against N199 million. Mr. Osa Afe confessed that, the contract sum was inflated at the instance of Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina and the inflated amount delivered to him.
“That Robert Ikazoboh was discovered to have transferred the total sum of N166.5million from his company Innovative Solution’s account to Frederick Hamilton Ltd, a company owned by Osarenkhoe Afe.
“A transfer of N35million was discovered from Innovative Solution to Uptrach Communication Ltd after which Robert Ikazoboh confirmed the payment as amount paid to the company that actually executed the contract of the biometric exercise.
“That Osarenkhoe Afe was also discovered to have been paid the sum of N l19.4 million as biometric enrolment exercise through his company Fredrick Hamilton. Investigation revealed that the company has no contract award letter from OHCSF nor did it carry out any contract.
“That including the amount remitted to Fredrick Hamilton from Innovative Solution, Fredrick Hamilton Ltd was discovered to have been fraudulently credited with the total sum of N 289.05 million out of which Mr. Osarehkhoe Afe confessed to have remitted over N250 million to Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina. Mr. Osa Afe admitted to have benefited N35million only and promised to refund same.
“Mr. Osa Afe confessed that, he issued blank cheques from his Skye Bank Account no. 1341770007353 to Mr. Maina which he used for making the withdrawals and sometimes he goes with Maina to Oceanic Bank to make the withdrawals and hand them over to him instantly. This has been confirmed by Oceanic Bank Fredrick Hamilton Ltd account officer.
“That one Salami Kareem Adesokan a storekeeper attached to the PRTT  confessed that the total sum of N147,765,400.00 fraudulently paid through various banks from OHCSF to three different companies namely Fatidek Ventures, Jolance and Oblando Nigeria Ltd for fictitious Biometric contract  were collected cash by him and delivered same to Mr. Maina through  one Ann Igwe (Maina’s confidential secretary).
“That the total sum of N153,146,719 fraudulently paid to XangeTechnologies Limited from OHCSF for fictitious Biometric contract was transferred to a Bureau de Change, converted to U.S. dollars and then delivered to Mr. Maina through his relative, one Khalid Ali Biu.”
The report gave the details of how Maina had used some firms, individuals and many accounts to siphon pension funds.
The EFCC said: “Investigation revealed that Mr. Maina fictitiously owned and operate the following accounts in the following names: Cluster Logistics, Drew Investment & Construction Ltd, Kongolo Dynamics Cleaning Ltd, “Dr” Abdullahi A. Faizal, Nafisatu Aliyu Yeldu and Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina,
“That analysis of the above listed accounts revealed a total turnover of more than N2.7 billion.  It is important to note that 95% of deposits into the fraudulent accounts were cash deposits made by bankers in their own names and other fictitious names.
“Investigation revealed that Mr. Maina fraudulently opened and fictitiously operated all the accounts with the active connivance of bank staff namely: Danjuma Zubairu, Toyin Meseke (Account Officer to some of the accounts investigated), Khalid Ali Biu (Maina’s relation) and Abubakar Gombe (Account officer of one of the accounts  investigated) in Kaduna Branch.
“Forensic analysis of Toyin Meseke telephone handsets revealed several text messages and email correspondences regarding specific instructions on running the accounts from Abdulrasheed Maina
“Investigation revealed that Danjuma Zubairu (Group Head of Private Banking) mostly approved those transactions via telephone and email instructions from Maina.
“That Toyin Meseke bought the sum of ($200,000) equivalent of N33,800,000 from one Bashir Mohammed Taura, a Bureau de Change operator, and instructed him to facilitate the delivery of same money to Abdulrasheed Maina  in Dubai, U.A.E on 05/05/2014.
” Toyin Meseke also bought another sum of $250,000) equivalent of N42,500,000) from one Bashir Mohammed Taura, a bureau de Change operator and instructed him to facilitate the delivery of same money to Abdulrasheed Maina in Dubai U.A.E on 05/06/2014
“That Toyin Meseke facilitated the transfer of the total sum of N33,105,000 to ALNASRA BDC & JIEK BDC on behalf of Abdulrasheed  Maina from Cluster Logistics account for the purpose of buying U.S. dollar on 10/03/2014
“That Toyin Meseke also facilitated the part liquidation of Maina’s fixed deposit of N100,850,000 and subsequent transfer to Neural Wax  BDC  on 07/07/2015 for buying U.S. dollars on behalf Abdulrasheed Maina  and delivered same to one Mairo Bashir (Maina’s relation) of UBA Maitama Branch Abuja.
“That the total sum N26.5 million was paid to the Federal Housing Authority from Kongolo Dynamics Ltd and a balance of N4.4 Million was paid to Alhaji Tijjani Yusuf between 20/10/08 & 19/11/08 for the purpose of buying a property located at No.12, 11th Road Kado Estate Abuja owned by Abdulrasheed Maina.
“That four bank drafts totaling N30 million were issued same day (15/03/2010) in favour of one Titus Adeboye from Kongolo Dynamics Ltd account. Mr. Adeboye confirmed that the fund traced to him was for the purpose of acquiring a property for Mr. Maina (block of shops) located at C2 Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna.
“That Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina bought another property located at No. l0 Amisi Musa Street, Jabi Abuja FCT from one Alhaji Adamu  Modibbo and paid the sum of $2m cash, equivalent of N340 million in June 2012.
“Finally investigation has established that all the accounts are linked to Mr. Maina either through his phone number, email address or transactions between the accounts and testimonies of the account officers/ bankers involved in this complex money laundering scheme.
“A total number of eight GSM lines have been traced by the EFCC as the ones used by Maina to give instructions to banks, cronies and associates to launder the huge amount under investigation.
The numbers were listed by the anti-graft agency as 08098887733, 08037872471, 08142277550, 07037900714, 08106842813, 08091501002, +971552717234 and +971526294678.
“Furthermore investigation also confirmed that the source of funds in the accounts could only be from those fictitious contracts and other bogus payments from government, particularly OHCSF Pension Department and CIPPO where Maina superintended at various times between 2008 and 2013, as no known existing and viable business was  identified as source of funds into the account and the account officers  confirmed same.
“It is also pertinent to note that the Special Audit conducted by the Auditor-General of the Federation also confirmed those violations investigated by the commission.”
As at press time, those standing trial for the pension fraud in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation are Oronsaye; Maina; the Director of Finance and Account, Dr. Sani Shuaibu Teidi, Mrs. Phina Ukamaka Chidi, Deputy Director, Aliyu Bello, Special Assistant to Director of Administration, Olanipekun Emmanuel, Head of Final Account, Abdul Mohammed, Assistant Cash Pay Officer, Garbo Tahir, Cashier and M.K. Ahmed, Assistant Director, Variation.
Others charged for abetting laundering are Osarenkhoe Afe; Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited;  Franklin Nwankwo and Eric D. Omoefe; one Abdullahi Omeiza (charged for his role in operating 13 pension accounts in 13 different banks with 13 different names; Alhaji Ali Abatcha and Elder Actor Zal, former President and Secretary General of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners.”

Source: The Nation
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