Abdurasheed Maina, the ex-Chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Team (PPRT) has challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to an open debate.

He said “Let’s meet at an open panel of investigation if the EFCC is truly straightforward. We urge the government to appoint an independent panel of investigation and see who will run out of Nigeria.”

The former pension reforms boss also said that the Federal Government is owing him N159b based on the five percent fee promised whistle-blowers.

Maina’s lawyer, Sani Katu, said “It could be recalled that Maina was shot at and dismissed by the pension cabal. The 7th Senate asked for his head, he approached the high court and got judgment and is now being accused of N2.1 billion which is not even a .000001 percent of what Maina is supposed to be paid by government.

“Now let’s total what Maina recovered, then apply the five percent whistleblower policy and get the total to be paid to Maina; then subtract N2.1 billion, which, even though it is a complete fabrication by the EFCC, then pay him the balance.”

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The former pension reforms boss also accused a prominent lagos lawyer of buying a property which was seized from those he called pension fraudsters.

Jonathan battles Buhari over Maina

President Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu had earlier alleged that some influential officials loyal to the previous government may have been the invisible hand in the latest scandal that saw the return of Maina.

This came after the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), alleged that a former President takes N5bn monthly from the Pension Fund.

In his reaction, former President Goodluck Jonathan denied claims that he received N5b monthly.

The former President, who spoke through his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, said that there is no iota of truth in Malami’s claims.