More than one month after the former Chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, found himself in yet another major controversy, he has shared his side of the story in an exclusive interview with Channels Television.
In the interview, Maina claimed that he met with Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, after President Muhammadu Buhari approved talks between officials and him.
He also insisted that security agencies also cleared him ahead of the talks, which were held outside the country.
He said: “When this government came in, the President went and gave his note that ‘go and sit down with Maina. I have given you the approval’.
“They sat down with me after the security agencies cleared me of any wrongdoing.”
During the meeting, Maina said he gave Malami a document which aided the government in preventing the theft of N1.3 trillion.
He said: “As soon as this current government decided to sit with me, and after sitting with me, I decided that ‘I will not leave you to go back to Nigeria with empty pocket, I’m going to give you something to put in your pocket’.
“And the Minister of Justice laughed and said: ‘What are you going to give us?’
“I said: ‘I’m going to give you guys a gift.’
“What is the gift?
“I gave him a document and said: ‘Go here, here, here, here… there’s N1.3 trillion, they are going to steal it because they have been stealing it every year.’”
Maina said although the minister was shocked at his revelation and the amount involved, he did not believe that the document was authentic.
He said: “When I gave them that, the minister thought it was not possible.
“When he got back, he realised I gave him a correct information.”
Maina, who has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged N2 billion fraud, said further in the video that Buhari should give him some form of immunity, which would allow him to appear before the National Assembly without being arrested.
He said if he testified in public, many secrets would be revealed.
He said some of the people working for Buhari were insincere and not telling him the truth.
He said: “People around the President portray themselves as saints but it is a lie.
“My team recovered N282 billion in cash.
“Aside that, we were able to bring information that led to the arrest of 43 pension suspects.
“N1.6 trillion cash investment and properties were recovered.
“They have threatened my brothers, sisters and even my lawyer.
“They said I would be killed.
“They said my family would be annihilated if I testify.
“I have asked the President specifically that if he wants to know the truth and wants to be fair to the nation, he should give me the opportunity to present.
“I am appealing to Mr. President: “There are so many things that people are not telling you.
“If I get to that hearing, I will tell you some things that no one has ever told you because I have not had the opportunity to sit down with you and I am telling Mr. President that I will give you information and documents that will help you recover over N3 trillion now in Nigeria.”
. Video and additional reports courtesy of Channels TV.
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