Two days after his indefinite suspension as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and subsequent detention, the picture is becoming a bit clear regarding the cause of the ordeal of AbdulRasheed Bawa.
A Presidency source told News Express that Bawa, currently a guest of the Department of State Service (DSS) following his suspension by President Bola Tinubu, is answering questions in connection with weighty allegations against him by the Coalition of Concerned Citizens, among other petitions.
The group had at a recent press conference in Abuja accused Bawa of corruption. It specifically accused the now-suspended EFCC boss of travelling for the lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia “with his wife, children, parents and other family members about a month ago.”
The coalition claimed that while in Jeddah and Mecca, Bawa “stayed in Sheraton Hotel which costs about $15,000” a room per night. It alleged that Bawa and his family members lodged in the highbrow hotel for ten days.
“Mr Bawa paid for six rooms and the hotel accommodation for the trips is estimated to be around $300,000,” the coalition said.
It wondered how Bawa “could easily afford that luxury without batting an eyelid”.
The group said that Bawa’s suspicious lifestyle “is of great concern to everyone” and urged the Federal Government to investigate him.
“This,” according to the Presidency source, “is one of the reasons why Bawa was suspended”.
However, the DSS has neither granted Bawa bail nor commented on his case beyond confirming his detention and subjection to investigation.
News of Bawa’s suspension was broken via a statement issued by Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Willie Bassey, on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.
According to the statement, the suspension of the EFCC chairman is to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office.
“This follows weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.
“Mr Bawa has been directed to immediately handover the affairs of his office to the Director, Operations in the commission,” the statement had said.
Bawa’s immediate subordinate, Abdullahi Chukkol, has since taken over as Acting Chairman of EFCC.
