AGF Malami Denies Abdulrasheed Maina, Says He Never Gave Approval for His Reinstatement

Posted by Thandiubani on Thu 23rd Nov, 2017 - tori.ng

Testifying before an investigative panel of the House of Representatives in Abuja on Thursday, AGF Mr. Abubakar Malami has said he never gave any approval for Maina's reinstatement.

Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, has denied that he ordered the reinstatement of the former Chairman Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina.

He made this known while appearing before an investigative panel of the House of Representatives in Abuja on Thursday. Malami claimed that Maina’s case was “work in progress as of October 5” when suddenly it was reported that he had returned to office at the Ministry of Interior.

Also appearing before the same Committee, the Head of Service of the federation, Oyo-Ita said she received a letter from Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, requesting Maina’s reinstatement. The committee members were left in a state of confusion over Oyo-Ita's position.

It would be recalled that when news of Maina's secret reinstatement was made public last month, Malami when pressed to explain his role in the saga said that he acted in public interest.

“I am a legal practitioner, who is always guided by law and public interest and will therefore not do anything that deviates from the law or breaches public interest.

“I believe that Nigerians are entitled to know the truth in the entire saga and I am ready to speak directly to them when I appear before the Senate since I have been summoned by the legislature, which is investigating the matter.

“I will not however talk until I get clearance from my principal on the matter and I look forward to addressing anxious Nigerians on the matter when I appear before the Senators,” the minister said.

The House of Reps investigation continues.

Maina was the head of a government pension reform committee until he left the job and fled oversees in 2013, after he was accused of embezzling two billion naira pension fund.