Acting Chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , Ibrahim Magu, had denied that he knew anything about the letter removing Maina from its wanted list.
Magu said the letter, dated December 1, 2015, was before his assumption of office as the EFCC acting chairman.
“This is the first time in my life that I have seen this letter. But it will be investigated,” Magu said.
Magu also denied the allegation that pension assets recovered by Maina and handed over to the EFCC were stolen by the anti-graft agency.
He said no asset was collected from the task force, adding that assets recovered from pension fraud suspects were products of independent investigations by the EFCC.
Magu explained that the assets were recovered from suspects involved in the police pension fraud and persons linked to the fraud in the office of the HoS.
He added, “Maina did not hand over a single asset to the commission.
“Let him give details of the assets, the dates and officials who received them.”
Magu said some funds and property were traced to Maina, which was why he was declared wanted.
He said N2.7bn was found in Maina’s bank account, while his son made a turnover of N1.5bn in one year.
He added, “Maina ran his illegal deals in hard currencies, paying $2m in cash one day to buy a house in Abuja. Maina remains a wanted person.”
The Director-General of the Department of State Service, Mr. Lawal Daura, said it was true that the AGF met with Maina in Dubai in 2016, adding that he met with Maina in company with the National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.).
On the reinstatement of Maina, Daura said, “The service played no role in his reinstatement.” (Punch)