.Public awaits Buhari’s decision on saga including Grasscutter-gate, NIA Cash Scandal
The Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari is in receipt of the report ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari detailing how Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, an indicted fugitive was reinstated into the civil service.
The public is also eagerly awaiting the president’s action on the alleged graft report involving the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal as well as the Director-General of the NIA, Mr. Ayodele Oke. The report was submitted to the president a few months back by the panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and surprisingly the president is yet to act on it.
The Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita who reinstated Maina via a memo now in public domain, delivered the report to the presidency on Monday night.
“I have confirmation that the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Oyo-Ita, has brought the report on the re-engagement of Abdulrasheed Maina as directed by the President. This is being studied as other reports are being awaited,” the president’s spokesman, Shehu Garba wrote in a text message to journalists. He did not specify what “other reports” meant.
President Buhari was still in Niger Republic when the report was delivered on Monday night. It is believed he will spend the night in the capital Niamey and return to Abuja on Tuesday.
Mrs. Oyo-Ita insists that the Attorney-General of Federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami ‘s legal opinion and advise led to the recall of the previously dismissed official, who allegedly corruptly diverted over N100bn from the pension fund.
But THEWILL can however report from official memos seen that Mrs. Oyo-Ita, Malami and the Federal Civil Service Commission played a key role in Maina’s reinstatement. Further checks also revealed that the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau also played a major role in the saga.
President Buhari Monday ordered Maina’s immediate dismissal following the uproar that greeted reports of his reinstatement.
Some political analysts expressed reservations on the president’s commitment to the anti-corruption war fearing that he may just treat the report like the one involving the SGF, who is believed to be a very close associate of the leader.
