Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, says the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has issued a warrant of arrest for Abdulrasheed Maina, the former pension reform boss who is also wanted by the EFCC and the Nigerian Police.
This is following reports that Maina may have fled to Niger Republic as a result of the manhunt launched against him by Nigerian law enforcement agencies.
Shehu told journalists that the investigation into Maina’s case has been extended to some foreign countries.
“Maina’s investigation has been expanded. This is beyond reinstatement. It has gone beyond that,” Shehu said.
“You know that the INTERPOL has just issued an international warrant on him. A Nigerian court has also issued yet another warrant of arrest.
“All those cases involving Steve Oronsaye (former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation) that are ongoing, you know Maina is also involved. Law enforcement agencies are looking at that too.
“You are also aware that the Senate is also carrying out its own investigation on the matter.
“The matter is being investigated from all fronts. The EFCC, for example, is discovering more and more properties and its officials are sealing them. They are also looking at banks and all that.
“In fact, this investigation will also touch some foreign countries.”
Meanwhile, Winifred Oyo-Ita has confirmed that she responded to the query issued to her by President Muhammadu Buhari, demanding explanation on the circumstances of Maina’s reinstatement.
She said that she forward her response to Abba Kyari, the President’s Chief of Staff, together with the response from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.
Oyo-Ita added that a third response was also sent to Kyari by the Acting Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, whom, she insisted, issued the letter reinstating Maina into the civil service.
“The Chief of Staff to the President wrote directly to the Acting chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission because it was the commission that sent out the letter,” Oyo-Ita told a State House correspondent.
“That letter people are saying was from the Office of the Head of Service did not come from me; it came from the Federal Civil Service Commission.
“The only persons that responded directly to me is the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.
“I have sent my submission and the response from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior to the Chief of Staff.”
On whether there has been an update on the matter, Oyo-Ita said: “I am not the right person to ask if there is any update on it. It is the presidential spokesmen that will know if there is any update.”