From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Forty-eight hours after President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Abdulrasheed Bawa for alleged fraud and abuse of power
The Arewa Civil Society, Organisation (ACSO) has called for a total overhaul, holistic change or dissolve the Commission
This was made known to the media in a statement signed by its Chairman, Adamu Aminu Musa, and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.
ACSO called on the President to replace the Commission with a more reliable anti-graft agency that will stand the taste of time, noting that EFCC has been turned into a money making agency through plea bargains and a weapon for witch hunting of opponents in order to earn back the trust of Nigerians and redeem the image of Nigeria before the world.
The Group while Commending President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of Bawa said the move is a stitch in time that will save a few more than 9, because Bawa has constantly and continually abuse and miss-use his powers and office, engaging in various corrupt practices.
The statement added that as Chairman of the EFCC, Bawa failed to comply with section 7(2) of the establishment Act 2004 which commissions the EFCC to combat economic and financial crimes, thereby enabling the Commission to prevent, investigate, prosecute and penalize economic and financial crimes.
“We have been vindicated for our earlier stance in calling for the removal of Bawa, now the President has listened, this is very courageous and exemplary, and we must commend him for taking this bold and righteous decision.
“More so, most of our grievances that made us take that stance, are the reasons the DSS invited the suspended Chairman for questioning.
They include various charges of abuse of office, accused of stealing and selling dozens of petrol-bearing trucks confiscated from suspected looters, auctioning them off to his proxies at ridiculous prices while he was in charge of the Port Harcourt office of the EFCC and alleged violation of the code of conduct for public officers by owning properties beyond his legitimate income.”
According to ACSO during Bawa’s tenure as Chairman, the EFCC did not obey court orders, they give a contrary court order that arm twist the bank, running a lot of interferences in corruption investigations in other to stop cases against friends, allies, family and anyone willing to play their dirty games, making money through plea bargain, with backing from his God father and benefactor, the then Anthony General & Minister for Justice, Mallami Abubakar SAN.
“Abdulrasheed Bawa is Egocentric, at the detriment of Nigerian citizens, he drives the selfish goals of his family, friends and loved ones.
“He was never sincere in his fight against corruption, selectively picking those to be investigated while allowing the bigger fishes to walk around Scot free.
“Making reference to the statement issued by the Government of the United States, that in terms of fighting corruption, the EFCC, have succeeded largely with low-level cases.
“Bawa was a mistake, he was just on a witch hunt on orders of his God father, Mallami Abubakar SAN. In 2021, Bawa’s witch hunting hands were extended to the doorsteps of President Tinubu himself, who was the then National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
‘ If not for divine intervention that brought President Tinubu to power, Bawa would have completely succeeded in dragging Tinubu’s personality in the mud.
“He tried so hard to have ordered the arrest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 3 consecutive times through the Commission’s Zonal head in Lagos, Mr. Ghali Ahmed.
“Adamu Aminu Musa also added that, whatever crimes Bawa committed, could not have done it alone, therefore his co-perpetrators and those who shielded him should also be invited for questioning by the DSS. “
