Mainagate: Battle between AGF, Senate hots up after court ruling

The Senate has asked Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami to explain why he approached the court to stop its ongoing probe into his role in the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, pension reforms task-force former boss.

According to the upper chamber in a statement on Tuesday, Malami has been running around the courts seeking to stop the probe by the two chambers of the National Assembly into how Mr. Abdulrashid Maina, an assistant director in the Ministry of Interior, was surreptitiously reinstated into the service after being dismissed.’

The Federal High Court Abuja on Monday threw out the ex parte application Malami brought, seeking to stop the Senate’s probe into the recall of Maina.

The Senate said it was surprised that the AGF, instead of using the time given him by the National Assembly to state his case, he resorted to legal battles to stop the probe.

“When he appeared before our committee, he was well received and fairly treated. He indeed expressed his happiness with the protection given to him by the committee handling the Maina case. Why then is it very important and urgent for him to stop the investigative hearing? What is the AGF trying to hide?” said Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs Sabi Abdullahi.

“Let it be known that the legislature has the power of investigation on all institutions, bodies and individuals, particularly those who access funds that have been appropriated by us.

We, however, expressed our commendation to the judiciary for upholding the principles of separation of powers and insisting on fair-hearing.

“We believe that is the reason why the judge refused to grant the prayers of the AGF yesterday and rather insisted that the National Assembly should be put on notice and served all the court processes is so that we could enter our own defence.

“While we respect the position of the court and would respond accordingly, the Senate has further directed the committee investigating the Maina issue to expedite action and submit their reports on time.

“The Senate believes Nigerians are interested in knowing the ‘how, who, why and where’ of what is now known as the ‘Maina Gate’. We definitely will not allow those who want the facts buried to prevail.”