Dambazau missing from FEC meeting, Malami, Oyo-Ita appear

Embattled Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, is notably absent from Thursdays Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting currently presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The minister has had a rough week as he has been accused of being heavily involved in the controversial recall of wanted former pensions reform chief, Abdulrasheed Maina.

Maina was recalled and promoted after he had been dismissed by the Federal Civil Service Commission in 2013 following a recommendation by the Office of the Head of Service.

In 2015, he was charged alongside former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited before a Federal High Court on a 24-count charge bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence through the award of fraudulent biometric contracts.

After he was declared wanted over an alleged N2 billion pension fraud, he evaded capture from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and fled abroad.

Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, and Dambazau were instrumental to the process of Maina's recall.

Despite issuing a statement to deny his involvement, Dambazau has been under pressure to address the controversy as President Buhari has demanded an investigation into the matter after ordering Maina's 'disengagement'.

The Senate and House of Representatives have also set up separate ad-hoc committees to investigate the issue.

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Despite their own alleged involvements, AGF Malami and Oyo-Ita are present for Thursday's meeting taking place at the Council Chambers, inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja