President Jonathan Has Ordered ‘Immediate’ Disciplinary Action Against Maina, Presidency Says

Abdulrasheed Maina with SSS bodygaurds during an outing at the National Assembly

By SaharaReporters, New York

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to commence disciplinary action against Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina for absconding from duty contrary to the Federal Government’s Public Service Rules.
A statement from the presidency said the action followed Jonathan’s receipt from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) of a status report on efforts to execute the warrant which was issued by the Senate for the arrest of Maina, the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force.
The IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, told Mr. Jonathan in his report he had constituted a team of detectives led by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police to find and arrest Maina in compliance with the Senate’s directive.
“The Inspector-General said that the police has since mounted surveillance at Alhaji Maina’s home and Office but has been unable to arrest him because he has gone into hiding and stayed away from both locations since the warrant was issued, leading to his publicly being declared wanted by the Police,” the statement said, adding that “intensive search” operations were ongoing and that the Police will not relent until Maina is apprehended and produced before the Senate.
Just yesterday, Doyin Okupe, the Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Public Affairs, told reporters the president will not spare Maina, who contrary to the claims by the IGP, is known to be moving around Abuja with over 35 armed security personnel.
Maina is in a tug-of-war with the Senate over an allegation that the Senate Probe committee on Pension Reform received a N3billion bribe contributed by corrupt government officials who had embezzled pension funds.
It is unclear why Maina did not show up at the Senate to testify.
“This are high-stakes issues,” an observer told SaharaReporters today.  “A civil servant on national assignment is invited by the Senate, a committee of which is entangled in at least two big bribery allegations of three billion Naira and two billion Naira, according to Desert Herald newspaper.  He fails to show up, and both the Senate and the police declare him wanted.
“Now, the Presidency is imposing immediate disciplinary action, and a Deputy Inspector-General of Police is detailed to arrest Maina!  This is huge joke!  Maina knows something, perhaps too much.
Maina is known to cruise around Abuja with several state security bodyguards.