Maina’s Arrest Difficult, ‘Some People’ Protecting Him – Magu

Ibrahim Magu has said “wanted” ex-pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina, keeps escaping the grip of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) because he has “some people” protecting him.

Magu said this while serving as a guest on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on Monday.

The EFCC boss said it was beyond his understanding how the ex-chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) returned to the country, got reinstated and promoted, and then fled the country without being arrested.

“We would go after everybody who is involved. I am telling you, we will not spare anybody,” Magu said.

“He has people who are protecting him and that has made it difficult for us to get him arrested. You can imagine, he was promoted. It is devastating, it is beyond my understanding.”

Asked if he knew where Maina had fled to, Magu responded, “Of course if I knew why would I be appealing to Nigerians to give us support.

“We are determined to get to the root of this matter. That’s why we have renewed the investigation. We will retrieve all property or whatever must have been stolen from public funds.

“This is something that we have done as far back as 2011. The matter has been in court, and Maina was also charged before the court. He was arraigned in absentia. I assure you, we will get him sooner or later. The national assembly is supporting us. We are collaborating and we are also giving them support. We have no problem with national assembly.

“There are some support, synergy, cooperation from time to time but it is not satisfactory because every security agency has some responsibilities in the fight against corruption.

“I want us to be fully committed in the fight against corruption because the greatest enemy of Nigeria today is corruption and the corrupt people are now celebrating.

“The way the media and other Nigerians can help us is to give us information to get Maina arrested,” he said.