Breaking: Maina allegedly flees to Niger as family claims Buhari's government begged him to join change agenda
- Popular news outlet reports that Abdulrasheed Maina has allegedly escaped to Niamey in Niger Republic
- The online newspaper also reports that the former chairman of the presidential task force on pension reform was escorted by DSS officials
- The family of the embattled pension boss claims that Maina was begged to join the change agenda and vowed to expose the 'cabal' behind their son's ordeal
Popular media alleges that former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform, Abdulrasheed Maina has reportedly escaped to Niamey in the Niger Republic and was escorted out of Nigeria by DSS officials.
In a related development, the family of Maina, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari's administration begged the embattled former pension boss to join the change agenda, with the assurance of security protection, Daily Trust reports.
Legit.ng gathered the family during a press conference in Kaduna on Wednesday, October 25, accused a “cabal” in Aso Rock of being behind the travails of their son.
READ ALSO: Senior civil servants break silence on Maina's recall
Aliyu Maina, the spokesman of the family, said his brother is not a fraudster but a messiah who brought reforms into the pension scheme.
The spokesman said based on his “sterling record” at the scheme, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari appealed to Maina to key into the “change agenda”.
Aliyu wondered why government officials were denying his brother, especially when the Department of State Services (DSS) provided security for him.
“It is on record that Abdulrasheed Maina’s reform put a stop to the fraudulent withdrawal of huge sums from both the Nigerian Pension Board, the Nigerian Police Pension Board, etc.
"Perhaps it is his noble efforts that made him enviable to the present administration when they came into power to convince him to come back and assist in its ‘CHANGE agenda.”
“Abdulrasheed was in fact invited by this administration and he was promised security to come and clean up the mess and generate more revenue to the government by blocking leakages."
“He succumbed to the present administration and came back to Nigeria. He has been working with the DSS for quite some time and he was given necessary security.
“There is a letter from the attorney-general of the federation where he gave his own legal opinion regarding the court verdict which was submitted to the Civil Service Commission and the Head of Service respectively. So, one wonders why all the agencies and various individuals responsible for his return are now denying,” he said.
When asked about Maina’s whereabouts, Aliyu said: “As you know Abdulrasheed Maina had been a target of in the past, so experience is the best teacher. But when his security is guaranteed, he will surface from wherever he is and tell Nigerians the truth.
“All the same, we have contacted our solicitors, Messrs Mamman Nasir & Co and instructed them to act appropriately.
"We equally know that Abdulrasheed Maina is in possession of so facts that are against the cabal and interesting to the Nigerian populace, which he will disclose soonest. One must ask whether it is an offence for somebody to serve his fatherland.”
The family also said that the houses recently seized in Kaduna by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was inherited by Maina.
He said the anti-graft agency had ordered the family members to vacate their residential house in Kaduna.
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Legit.ng previously reported that Abdulrasheed Maina, despite being on the run after being declared wanted by the EFCC for alleged corruption, the fugitive was provided federal security cover.
Maina is said to have received protection from operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service, SSS while the SSS allegedly provided an accommodation for him, Premium Times reports.
The EFCC stage a walk against corruption on Legit.ng TV.
Source: Legit.ng
