EFCC Speaks About Corruption Allegation Against New Chair, Bawa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday absolved its new Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, of corruption allegations levelled against him.

Hours after his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari as the EFCC chairman on Tuesday, reports of his involvement in corruption surfaced

But the commission defended him, saying he had no corruption record.

Spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement on Tuesday while reacting to reports that Bawa was arrested and removed from his position as Port Harcourt zonal head of the commission for allegedly diverting 224 forfeited trucks.

The diversion of 224 forfeited trucks was one of the allegations levelled against Magu which was brought up before the Salami-led panel.

Bawa was also said to have appeared before the panel over the issue but said he had no hand in the auction of the assets as it was supervised by a different department.

The EFCC, in a statement titled, ‘Abdulrasheed Bawa Has No Corruption Record – EFCC’ said it “wishes to state categorically that Mr Bawa was never arrested or detained over sale of any assets.

“As zonal head of the Port Harcourt office of the commission in 2019, Bawa’s responsibilities did not include the sale of assets as the commission has a full-fledged Directorate of Assets Forfeiture and Recovery Management, which remit such matters.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the disposal of finally forfeited trucks in the Port Harcourt zonal office through public auction, was conducted after the exit of Bawa as zonal head. It is therefore illogical for him to have been indicted over an auction that was not superintended by him.

“The auction of trucks at the Port Harcourt Office was among the issues examined by the Justice Ayo Salami Panel, leading to the suspension of some officers of the commission. The commission, therefore, enjoins the public to disregard the false publication which is believed to be sponsored by mischief makers to impugn the integrity of the EFCC chairman-designate.”

Bawa succeeded Ibrahim Magu, who was suspended in July 2020 when the President set up a panel led by Justice Ayo Salami to investigate allegations of corruptions against him.

Dateline Nigeria reports that Mr. Bawa joined the EFCC in 2005 and currently serves as the Head of the Lagos EFCC zonal office. He still has several officials senior to him, most of whom are policemen including the current acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Umar Mohammed, who is 55 years old.

Bawa’s appointment it was learnt was based on the Salami panel recommendation.