Arewa Civil Society Organisation and Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for suspending the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, while urging a complete overhaul of the Commission.
Chairman of Arewa Civil Society Organisation, Adamu Aminu Musa told journalists on Friday that the suspension and subsequent arrest of Bawa for alleged fraud and abuse of power was long overdue while urging the President to carry out a thorough probe and holistic overhaul of the Commission to enable it to function effectively and efficiently carry out its anti-graft duties.
He said: “The suspension of Abdulrasheed Bawa is long overdue because Bawa has constantly and continuously abuse and misuse his powers and office, engaging in various corrupt practices. As EFCC Chairman, Bawa failed to comply with section 6 of the Establishment Act 2004 which empowers the EFCC to combat economic and financial crimes, thereby enabling the Commission to prevent, investigate, prosecute and penalize economic and financial crimes. Hence, suspending him is the first step towards making things right in the fight against corruption.
“Now that the President has listened to our earlier stance, we must commend him for taking this bold and righteous decision. Most of the grievances that made us take that stance are the reasons the DSS invited the suspended Chairman for questioning. They include charges of abuse of office, accused of 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.
“During Bawa’s tenure as the Chairman, the EFCC did not obey court orders, they give contrary orders that arm-twist the bank, running a lot of interferences in corruption investigations in order to stop cases against friends, allies, family, and anyone willing to play their dirty games, making money through a plea bargain, with backing from his godfather and benefactor”.
National President of AYCF, Alhaji Yerima Shettima expressed appreciation “for the swift action taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of suspending the widely believed compromised Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa indefinitely, and ordering a thorough investigation of the activities of the agency under his watch. And extend the measure to include a total overhaul of the EFCC to flush out remnants of Abdulrasheed Bawa’s accomplices entrenched in top positions of the agency.
“The move by Mr President is a reassurance of his government’s commitment to addressing the sceptre of endemic, widespread, corruption and political avarice that characterised the eight-year tenure of the previous administration attributable to a lack of application of relevant laws against corrupt practices among officials of the regime and the apparent compromise of the EFCC under Abdulrasheed Bawa.
“We categorically state that Bawa has been a huge disappointment for the young people of Nigeria who are supposed to be the natural claimants to the task of shaping the future of the Nigerian society. Bawa himself apart from his incompetent handling of the EFCC boss has also acquired massive assets in unexplained and suspicious circumstances that need to be investigated”.
Meanwhile, the group said it has faith, that in view of his upbringing and eminent legal background, the acting chairman of the EFCC, Abdulkarim Chukkol, will not disappoint the nation and will pursue the war against corruption with decency and decorum in accordance with the rule of law.
