Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of Service of the Federation, says she told President Muhammadu Buhari about the plot to reinstate Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).

This was contained in the memo submitted by Oyo-Ita to Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff, in response to a query from the President demanding an explanation into the circumstances that led to Maina’s reinstatement.

According to The Punch, the memo, dated October 23, and with reference number HSCSF/HCSF/LU/COR/FCSC/750/T, was titled: ‘Re: Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina’.

Oyo-Ita maintained that the move to recall Maina was kick-started by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, and that her office was never in support of it, neither did it approve Maina’s subsequent posting to the Ministry of Interior.

“Please, note that the OHCSF was never in agreement with the reinstatement and consequently never conveyed the approval of the FCSC to Mr. A. A. Maina, nor approved his posting to the Ministry of Interior or any other MDA,” Punch quoted Oyo-Ita as writing in the memo.

“Rather, I sought audience with His Excellency, Mr. President, on Wednesday, 11th October, 2017 after the FEC meeting where I briefed His Excellency verbally on the wide-ranging implications of the reinstatement of Mr. A. A. Maina, especially the damaging impact on the anti-corruption stance of this administration.

“The move to recall Mr. A. A. Maina was at the instance of a series of letters from the Attorney General of the Federation to the Federal Civil Service Commission requesting the commission to give consequential effect to the judgement that voided the warrant of arrest issued against Mr. A. A. Maina which formed the basis for the query and his eventual dismissal.

“The FCSC thereafter requested that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation should advise the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior to consider the AGF’s letter and make appropriate recommendations to the commission and this was so communicated to the Ministry of Interior.

“The Ministry of Interior took the matter to the Senior Staff Committee of the ministry and recommended the reinstatement of Mr. A. A. Maina into the service as Deputy Director.

“The OHCSF forwarded the recommendation to the FCSC, which has the constitutional responsibility for appointments, promotion and discipline for further action.

“The FCSC in consideration of the letter from the AGF and the recommendations of the SSC of the Ministry of Interior consequently approved and conveyed the reinstatement of Mr. A. A. Maina with effect from 21st February, 2013 vide letter herewith attached as Annex IV.

“The letter of reinstatement, as communicated to HCSF Ref. FC. 4029.82/Vol. III/179 dated  18th September, 2017 attached herewith as Annex IV, ostensibly also copied the Ministry of Interior which is the one erroneously used to document Mr. A. A. Maina on a claim that he has resumed work since 28th September, 2017.

“The Ministry of Interior informed the OHCSF of this development vide letter Ref. MI/1436/II/24 dated 16th October, 2017 from Ministry of Interior stating that Mr. A. A. Maina has resumed with effect from 28th September, 2017 is attached as Annex V.

“However, I have requested the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, to provide any documentary evidence to support the claim of reinstatement and posting of Mr. A. A. Maina by OHCSF, since after his dismissal.

“The letter to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior is attached as Annex VI. The foregoing is accordingly submitted for your information and further consideration.”

Maina was accused of spearheading massive corruption in the pension reforms task team which he headed between 2010 and 2013.

He was declared wanted by the EFCC and the Nigeria Police after he refused to honour several summons by the Senate to appear before it and clear himself.

He fled to the United Arab Emirates where he remained until his surreptitious reinstatement into the civil service.

However, Buhari, who was in Turkey when the news of Maina’s reinstatement broke, ordered his immediate dismissal from service.