Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central, says
the senate will not allow the case of Abdulrasheed
Maina, former chairman, Pension Reform Task Team
(PRTT), to turn to a family affair.
Maina, who is facing corruption allegations, was
posted to the ministry of interior under controversial
circumstances.
Abdulrahman Dambazau, minister of interior, had
earlier said it was the office of the head of the civil
service that posted Maina to his ministry.
This had generated widespread condemnation before
President Muhammadu Buhari ordered Maina’s
dismissal and demanded the report of a probe on his
reinstatement.
Speaking on Tuesday on a Channels TV programme,
Sani attributed Maina’s reinstatement to the
“disjointed state of government”.
He said the incident raises questions about the federal
government’s claim of fighting corruption.
“What is clear in the whole of these (Maina’s case) is
the very fact that things have not actually changed
very much in the very sense that if a man who has an
issue to settle with morality, with sanity could at these
very times be re-invited or recalled, then moral issues
certainly were raised,” he said.
“It is also a revelation of the discord and the disjointed
state of government as it is now.
“It also shows the very fact that some persons are
behind the scene wielding very strong powers to which
their wielding of power is directly in contradiction with
what the president stands for, believes in, and
advertises as the moral principles of his government.”
Responding to a question on the need for the senate
to investigate Maina’s reinstatement when Buhari has
already ordered a probe and the report submitted, Sani
said it is good for Nigerians to have “a buffet” of
Maina’s report.
He said the upper chamber intends to investigate the
circumstances leading to his return to Nigeria as well
as how he was reinstated without the knowledge of the
president.
Sani said: “By having two reports, it would be
impossible for anyone who will try to suppress it (the
investigation).
“The very fact that the president now has taken a
stand by reversing the recall is a clear indication that
either what was done was done without his knowledge
of it was done with his knowledge but he now realised
that it was wrong.
“But the fact as it is on the ground now is that the
senate will fully investigate and will come out with its
report. What will not happen will be a situation
whereby reports will be hidden from the public and
naturally if the parliament is investigating issues,
reports are usually made public.
“We are serious about this and Nigerians will come to
know the truth of how Maina came back and those
who are responsible; we would not allow it to be a
family affair and that’s why the senate has to
investigate.”
TheCable
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