Head of the Pension Task Force Team ,Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina who has been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force has expressed surprise over the move and further accused the police of ulterior motives.
“I, therefore, state with humility that the action of the Nigeria Police to have declared me wanted is definitely shrouded in some motives beyond the ordinary responsibilities of the force” Maina said in a statement this morning .
Continuing he said “I am not a criminal to be declared wanted just like that. If by virtue of the fact that I and members of my Task Force team have served our fatherland as gallant officers of the various security organizations we represent has made us criminals thus, declaring me as the head wanted, especially after securing the conviction of the first of the pension thieves we had caused to be investigated, prosecuted and got sentenced, then, God should save Nigeria!
“The convict, Mr. John Yakubu Yusufu, who worked in the Police Pension Office and helped in denying about 4,000 policemen of their rights after a meritorious service to our fatherland and who was a key informant to the Senate Committee of pension which has a mission to persecute us in the PRTT, remains a minor case in the face of the fresh revelations we have almost concluded.
“Are the people who are aware of the fresh investigation which will surely shock the nation beyond the marrows getting jittery? Yes, many of them are in various positions of authority, they are in the know that we had opened these investigations. The first conviction may have sent jitters down their spine. Are they forcing the Police to use its extant powers of arrest to help the pension thieves silence us in the PRTT? Or achieve the assassination of my person which failed twice? Or poison me while they have me in their care?
“As it is, it is obvious that it is a great crime to believe in and serve this great nation with one’s complete fervor, energies and patriotic zeal.
Read Maina’s statement below:
Maina:Declared wanted by Nigeria Police
The bare knuckle truth the nation must know now
“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it but in the end, there it is.” – Winston Churchill
Our country is not the only thing to which we owe our allegiance. It is also owed to justice and to humanity. Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong. ~James Bryce
I wish to let the people of Nigeria know that the purported declaration by the Nigeria Police that I am wanted is coming to me by surprise. First of all, I am a law abiding citizen of this nation who respects institutions and will not do anything, anytime to denigrate any constituted authority. However, I state equivocally that the said declaration by the Nigeria Police is definitely an abuse of power in a democracy.
There was no time I was invited either verbally or in writing by the Nigeria Police for any reason whatsoever. Why the said declaration? I have useful addresses where such invitations could have been directed. It is after such invitation has been dishonoured can an order for my arrest be employed. Where the arrest is resisted can the Police then go ahead to declare me wanted. I am available to answer any question from the Police anytime if I am invited not when I am declared wanted as if I am a felon. A simple SMS, telephone call or letter is enough to make me honour the Police invitation for questioning.
I, therefore, state with humility that the action of the Nigeria Police to have declared me wanted is definitely shrouded in some motives beyond the ordinary responsibilities of the force.
I am not a criminal to be declared wanted just like that. If by virtue of the fact that I and members of my Task Force team have served our fatherland as gallant officers of the various security organizations we represent has made us criminals thus, declaring me as the head wanted, especially after securing the conviction of the first of the pension thieves we had caused to be investigated, prosecuted and got sentenced, then, God should save Nigeria!
The convict, Mr. John Yakubu Yusufu, who worked in the Police Pension Office and helped in denying about 4,000 policemen of their rights after a meritorious service to our fatherland and who was a key informant to the Senate Committee of pension which has a mission to persecute us in the PRTT, remains a minor case in the face of the fresh revelations we have almost concluded.
Are the people who are aware of the fresh investigation which will surely shock the nation beyond the marrows getting jittery? Yes, many of them are in various positions of authority, they are in the know that we had opened these investigations. The first conviction may have sent jitters down their spine. Are they forcing the Police to use its extant powers of arrest to help the pension thieves silence us in the PRTT? Or achieve the assassination of my person which failed twice? Or poison me while they have me in their care?
As it is, it is obvious that it is a great crime to believe in and serve this great nation with one’s complete fervor, energies and patriotic zeal.
The order of Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, that we should undertake the reform of the other pension offices in the land will remain our guiding principles. We shall remain undaunted. We shall deliver the presidential order without fear of favour irrespective of all distracting nuances including this latest gimmick of using the Police as a possible instrument of oppression against our national interest.
For the tasks we have delivered, I proclaim here and now, if I know something that would serve my country but would harm mankind, I would never reveal it; for I am a citizen of humanity first and by necessity, and a citizen of Nigeria second, and only by accident. Therefore, if our country is worth dying for in time of the last civil war (1967-1970) we in the PRTT resolved as patriotic men of the various services we belong (as the ambassadors) that it is truly worth living for in time of peace (now and tomorrow).
Dr. Abdulrasheed Maina
Chairman, PRTT
3rd February, 2013
