Muhammadu Buhari was elected every bit Nigeria's president on a hope to root out rampant corruption inwards authorities that has seen billions of dollars of world coin stolen over decades.
But since his landmark election win inwards 2015 he has yet to secure a high-profile conviction for graft patch the main opposition accuse him of mounting a political witch-hunt.
Now, a growing scandal involving an indicted civil retainer has engulfed the presidency, giving Buhari's detractors fresh ammunition in addition to raising questions nigh his steal on power.
Last weekend, the Economic in addition to Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced that the interior ministry building had reappointed Abdulrasheed Maina to the civil service.
Maina headed a chore strength on pension reforms during the final management but fled Nigeria inwards 2015 later claims he stole 2 billion naira ($5.6 million, 4.8 meg euros).
An Interpol arrest warrant was issued yet he withal managed to furnish to Nigeria, where he has patently since enjoyed armed constabulary protection.
Buhari, who it has been claimed knew nigh Maina's return, responded past times ordering Maina's dismissal in addition to arrest but the EFCC said he had in i trial again fled Nigeria to avoid beingness picked up.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has predictably seized on the affair, claiming it showed the government's struggle against corruption to last "mere propaganda".
Ayodele Fayose, the PDP governor of Ekiti the world who is eyeing the party's presidential ticket inwards 2019, jumped on his favourite target -- Buhari himself.
"Fellow Nigerians, are yous right away convinced that Buhari's anti-corruption struggle is similar Satan calling Judas Iscariot a sinner?" he wrote on Twitter.
- Grip on ability -
Buhari, 74, has spent much of this twelvemonth inwards London beingness treated for an unspecified affliction that has seen him undergo blood transfusions in addition to a barrage of tests.
He returned to Nigeria inwards August later months of speculation that he was seriously sick in addition to rumours of a ability struggle to succeed him if he were to stride downwards or fifty-fifty die.
For Clement Nwankwo, of the Policy in addition to Legal Advocacy Centre inwards Abuja, "the bigger interrogation (about the Maina affair) is how much command does the president convey over his government".
"Is he fully aware of what is going on?"
Nwankwo said he was "worried that some people inwards the presidency would convey the audacity to smuggle Maina... in addition to fifty-fifty promote him without the president's knowledge".
He pointed to hints from the president's wife, Aisha, in addition to i of his daughters, Zahra, nigh behind-the-scenes machinations in addition to unchecked corruption at the pump of the presidency.
In a Facebook post service inwards July, Aisha Buhari alluded to "hyenas" in addition to "jackals" surrounding the president, patch Zahra called for an investigation of the presidential wellness facility.
The State House Clinic, which receives massive authorities funding every year, lacked basic drugs in addition to equipment, she said final month, adding: "Where is the coin going to?"
The 2 women's aims inwards speaking out appeared to last "to merely inquire Nigerians for help", said Nwankwo.
- 'Tainted' credentials? -
Even earlier the Maina scandal, Buhari was facing criticism for allegedly sitting on a study into claims of graft past times Nigeria's overstep civil retainer in addition to the word means chief.
The report, into an alleged kickback system involving assistance coin for victims of Boko Haram in addition to the regain of $43 meg inwards cash at a Lagos apartment, was submitted inwards August.
Debo Adeniran, from the Centre for Anti-Corruption in addition to Open Leadership foyer group, said the Maina instance was "a large embarrassment in addition to shame to Nigeria".
"It shows that in that place are people inwards Buhari's management that are non committed to his ideals concerning the anti-corruption war," he said.
"By recalling Maina to the civil service later beingness implicated inwards a pension scam, this regime has set a large interrogation grade on the president's integrity.
"Buhari's much-publicised anti-corruption credentials convey been tainted. It shows that he is the solely i who believes inwards the crusade."
It has long been suspected that non everyone inwards authorities shared Buhari's anti-corruption zeal but leading lawyer Femi Falana said the province of affairs could withal last salvaged.
Maina should last located, charged in addition to set on trial amongst anyone who helped him, he said.
"Those who recalled in addition to promoted the fugitive ought to last sanctioned past times President Buhari to serve every bit a deterrent to others who may want to sabotage the state of war against corruption."
But patch Buhari should last given credit for ordering an investigation, "follow-up action" was essential to demo the world how serious his authorities is nigh tackling the issue.
AFP