Somto BisinaThe suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, responded to an invitation from the Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday night, following his indefinite suspension by President Bola Tinubu earlier in the day.
Dr. Peter Afunanya, the spokesperson for the DSS, confirmed Bawa’s arrival at their headquarters, stating that the invitation was related to ongoing investigative activities concerning him.
Recently, the DSS had barricaded the EFCC office in Lagos over a property ownership dispute. President Tinubu subsequently directed the agency to vacate the premises immediately and find a peaceful resolution to the matter, expressing his intolerance for needless rivalry.
However, Tinubu suspended Bawa indefinitely, citing weighty allegations of abuse of office and the need for a thorough investigation into his conduct while in office.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, issued a statement announcing Bawa’s suspension and instructing him to hand over the affairs of the commission to the Director of Operations.
READ ALSO:Tinubu, In Surprise Move, Suspends EFCC Chairman Bawa
Abdulkarim Chukkol, Director of Operations, EFCC has been appointed to serve as the acting Chairman in the interim. Bawa’s case stands out due to its complex nature.
Bawa was the driving force behind the controversial naira redesign and currency swap policy implemented during the final months of the previous administration.
The policy aimed to combat money laundering, banditry, and other criminal activities involving illicit fund movements. However, Tinubu and many of his supporters viewed the policy with skepticism, believing it was targeted against the then-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and they saw the naira and petrol shortages at the time as deliberate attempts to hinder Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
The suspicion surrounding Bawa’s suspension suggests that the Tinubu camp might be seeking retribution for his role in the currency swap policy of the previous administration.
It is worth noting that all the previous EFCC chairmen, except the first, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, departed amid allegations of impropriety. Bawa, who was appointed by President Buhari in February 2021, became the fourth executive chairman of the agency and the first to rise from within its ranks rather than from the Nigeria Police Force.
Bawa has faced accusations of demanding $2 million from former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle, who alleged this during an interview with BBC Hausa Service. However, the EFCC stated in a media briefing that the accusation was a response to an ongoing investigation into Matawalle’s alleged corruption involving the misappropriation of approximately N70 billion from the Zamfara government.
Critics of Bawa claim that he operates with an air of impunity, allegedly using his position to intimidate and coerce individuals, financial institutions, and government agencies to comply with his demands, with alleged support from influential figures in the corridors of power.
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