Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. Suspension of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Chairman Abdulrashid Bawa is the second high profile chief executive affected by the new government under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
It comes less than a week with that of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor Godwin Emefiele.
By this action of Tinubu’s administration it seems many top government officials should be prepared for their exit either through suspension or sack.
It was also rumored that the Chief Executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Mele Kyara was expelled but the government swiftly dismissed the information.
But the NNPC Limited under Kyari is facing fraud allegations by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria.
The oil marketers urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stop the alleged exploitation in the distribution of petroleum products.
Secretary of IPMAN/NNPC PDO Forum, Folalu Ebenezer expressed Marketers grudges to Journalists in Lagos on Thursday 15th during a protest against what they called NNPC extortion.
Bawa’s suspension news and Secrete Police Invitation
Suspension news of the EFCC Boss and his immediate invitation by the State Security Service was the major headline of Nigerian NewsPapers and topic of discussion by different analysts on Television and radio stations across Nigeria.
The suspension was announced in a statement on Wednesday 14 June by the Director Information Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government Willie Bassey.
“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 leveled against him. Mr. Bawa has been directed to immediately handover 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,” According the statement
Some controversies that trailed Bawa’s tenure as head of EFC
Bawa assumed office on the back of discontent expressed in some quarters. There were debates over whether he was qualified to head the agency when he was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2021.
He was Deputy Chief Detective Superintendent at the time and the youngest official (at 40 then) to be appointed as EFCC chairman. He was the first to be appointed without being a high ranking officer of the Nigeria Police Force.
Among the issues that many analysts attributed to Bawa’s ordeal is the naira resigned policy at the eve of the 2023 Presidential election as some reports indicated that he was the one that initiated a memo that advice’s former President Buhari on the change of the currency as Tinubu the then APC candidate was alleged of stocking large Money to be used during the election.
Another controversy to be recalled is corruption allegations raised against the suspended EFCC Chairman by the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, as they locked in a battle of words with both parties making weighty allegations against each other.
While the EFCC said Matawalle was being investigated over an alleged 70 billion Naira fraud, the former governor accused Bawa of demanding a 2 million dollar bribe, an allegation he denied.
Different Court Orders for Bawa’s Arrest
In February 2023, a Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja ordered that Bawa should be imprisoned for disobeying court order.
The court also directed the Inspector General of Police to arrest Bawa and remand him in Kuje prison, Abuja, for the next 14 days.
The judge, Rukayat Ayoola, ordered that Bawa be detained in prison until he purges himself of the contempt.
Ayoola issued the committal order based on an application filed by Ali Bello accusing Bawa of disobeying a court ruling by going ahead to arraign him on 15 December 2022 against an earlier court order made on 12 December 2022.
Buba Galadima, is a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP and also a close associate of it’s Presidential Candidate during 2023 Presidential poll Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.He described President Bola Tinubu as an action man working to make Nigeria a better place.
Galadima said the decisions Tinubu is taking as President has indicated that he’s determined to make Nigeria a better place.
The NNPP chieftain urged the President to maintain the tempo.
“For those of us who have been in trenches in politics for the last 45 years, you will know that this time around the difference is clear.
We do appreciate Mr. President and so far he hasn’t disappointed us for having been on the right track so far.
We do pray and hope that the action man will continue the work he is doing to make Nigeria a better place for us.” Galadima Stated.
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