President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday suspended the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), AbdulRasheed Bawa, from office, three months after a group of civil society organisations (CSOs) called for his sacking.
Development Diaries reports that the suspension was made known in a statement signed by the Director of Information at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, on Wednesday.
It is understood that the suspension of Bawa, who was appointed in February 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, is to allow for a proper investigation into his conduct while in office.
The statement read, ‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the indefinite suspension from office of Mr. AbdulRasheed Bawa, CON, as the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office.
‘This follows weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.
‘Mr Bawa has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Director, Operations in the Commission, who will oversee the affairs of the Office of the Chairman of the Commission pending the conclusion of the investigation’.
The suspension of Bawa comes five days after Tinubu suspended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who was reappointed by Buhari in May 2019 for a second term.
A group of CSOs in March 2023 had called for the sacking of the EFCC chairman over his disregard for court orders.
In a joint press conference in Lagos, the CSOs, including Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Zero Graft Centre, Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance, Centre for Public Accountability, Transparency and Accountability Group, Activists for Good Governance, and Media Rights Concern, stated that their demand was also connected to Bawa’s alleged politicisation of the EFCC and infringement on human rights of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed its arrest of the suspended EFCC boss.
The DSS, in a tweet, said, ‘The Department of State Services (DSS) has invited Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Bawa arrived a few hours ago.
‘The invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him’.
The DSS was not specific on the reasons for his arrest, as there were no clear allegations in the tweet.
Development Diaries calls on the DSS to ensure it respects the fundamental human rights of Emefiele and Bawa by filing charges against them as required by the law and not detaining them beyond 48 hours.
Photo source: EFCC
