The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as a “safe haven to known criminals.”

The opposition party said this while reaction to the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, who is wanted for fraud.

Background:

• Maina was dismissed in 2013 by the Federal Civil Service Commission following a recommendation by the Office of the Head of Service.
• He was accused of massive pension fraud scheme amounting to more than N100 billion.
• Maina sued the Senate, after the upper chamber issued an arrest warrant against him.
• Maina was dismissed by the Head of Service for allegedly absconding from duty and attempting to evade arrest and charged to court.
• Reports recently emerged that Maina has returned to the country, now works with the government and has been promoted.
• However, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered his immediate disengagement from office and also queried the Head of Service over his reinstatement.
• The EFCC stormed a mansion in Abuja belonging to Maina, who is till on its wanted list.
• Winifred, Oyo-Ita, head of service also denied any complicity in the reinstatement of Maina.

What PDP said:

In a statement by Dayo Adeyeye, spokesman of the PDP on Monday, the party demanded immediate sack of the minister of internal affairs, Abdulrahman Dambazau, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami for Maina’s reinstatement.

“We demand the immediate sack of the minister of internal affairs, Abdulrahman Dambazau, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami who have been fingered in the illegal act of restoring Maina to office against good conscience,” the statement read.

“We, therefore, demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of Maina for his atrocities, arrest and prosecution of those who helped him return to the country and got restored to his duty post with promotion added.

“All people of good conscience will not forget in a hurry that Maina, who was given an assignment by the last administration of the PDP to superintend the now defunct Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, dipped his hands into the Jar and helped himself to N100 billion of what he was supposed to safeguard.

“With good conscience at fighting corruption, the PDP Government then, mandated the anti-corruption agencies to perform their constitutional duty. Maina fled, only to resurface in the country four months ago under the Buhari administration.

“While we are growing fatigued shouting ourselves hoarse in protest against nepotism, a clear form of corruption under this administration which has been elevated to state craft, we are appalled that the reinforcement of financial corruption by this government might soon lead to the demise of this nation if the celestial does not intervene.

“We are shocked and sad as well that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with its viable network under the Administration of the PDP has suddenly lost steam to the Point that it wasn’t aware of the Entrance of a high class wanted criminal into the Country until the media exposed it.

“Nigerians can see that the APC Administration has taken the fire out of our security agencies like the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the likes.

“How else can one explain why it took the media to expose the arrival and promotion of Maina by the government before the agencies became aware of his presence in the country. We smell complicity.”

Azeez