OrderPaperToday – The Senate has extended the duration of investigation into the controversial return of the former chairman of the Presidential Task force Team on Pension Reforms, (PTTPR), Abdulrasheed Maina.

This is because of a discovery of alleged looting of some 222 properties already recovered from the scam by security operatives investigating the pensions fraud.

Recall that on October 24, Senator Isa Misau (APC, Bauchi) raised a point of order which asked the Senate to probe Maina’s audacious return and reinstatement into public service in spite of being wanted by Interpol at the behest of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Maina was alleged to have masterminded pension fraud running into billions of naira on which basis he was being investigated both by the Senate and the EFCC before he fled the country.

He returned stealthily into the country and got posted into the service as a deputy director in the Ministry of Interior before the matter was busted by the media.

The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita and the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami were reported to have been involved in the scandal of Maina’s shocking return.

Based on Misau’s motion, the Senate resolved that its committees on public service, internal affairs, anti-corruption, establishment, judiciary be empanelled to determine the controversy and to report back to plenary in a month. The ad-hoc committee comprised of the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the identified committees.

The committee had thereafter met on several occasions with some of the accused parties but at some point it became a closed door affair.

But giving an update of the committee’s work on Thursday, the chairman, Sen. Emmanuel Paulker (PDP, Bayelsa) gave reasons why the committee could not table a report as expected.

Paulker said new revelations have emanated from the investigations.

The revelations bordered on some estate properties recovered during Mania’s investigations but which have been stolen by some unnamed persons.

Paulker said: “We have been on this matter since October 24. Tomorrow will make a month. Because of the complexities of this issue, we cannot table the report as it stands now and we seek for extension.

“During the investigation, certain issues arose that this mandate of the senate did not cover. Mr. President, suffice it to note that it was revealed during the investigation that some estate properties were recovered during Maina’s investigation into pension fraud.

“And since this mandate did not cover that aspect of resolution, I want to come under order 42 and 52 so that the standing committee can now come up with a motion that Senate can now empower them to expand her mandate to cover this.

“There is an urgent need to investigate the mystery surrounding the recovered properties seized from pension suspects by the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms.

“The task force headed by Maina in the course of discharging the mandate recovered about 222 houses and properties from pension suspects in Abuja and other major cities across the country.

“The total recovered assets seized from alleged pension thieves were reported to have been allegedly shared by some interest groups.

The Senate ruled that the committee be given a further four weeks to report back to plenary.

https://www.orderpaper.ng/senate-extends-maina-gate-probe-re-looted-222-properties/

Corruption unlimited!!! . Who will save us come 2019 !!

DSS / EFCC drama has overtaken Maina issue ........