Following the suspension of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Abdulrasheed Bawa by President Bola Tinubu and subsequent arrest by the Department of State Security (DSS), group, Arewa Civil Society Organisation has asked the secrete security to go after Bawa’s allies.
Chairman of the Coalition, Adamu Aminu Musa in a statement described Bawa’s arrest and investigation as a stitch in time that will save more than nine considering the ripple effect of a corrupt boss on those under his supervision.
To Adamu, as Chairman of the EFCC, Bawa failed to comply with section 6 of the Establishment Act 2004 which empowers the agency to combat economic and financial crimes, thereby enabling the Commission to prevent, investigate, prosecute and penalise economic and financial crimes.
He said “suspending him is the first step towards making things right in the fight against corruption.
“We have been vindicated for our earlier stance on calling for the removal of Bawa. Now the President has listened, this is very courageous and exemplary, and we must commend him for taking this bold and righteous decision.
“Moreso, most of our grievances that made us take that stance, are the reasons the DSS invited the suspended Chairman for questioning.
“They include various charges of abuse of office, accused of stealing and 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.
He was never sincere in his fight against corruption, selectively picking those to be investigated while allowing the bigger fishes to walk around scot-free.
“In 2021, Bawa’s witch-hunting hands were extended to the doorsteps of President Tinubu himself who was the then National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“If not for divine intervention that brought President Tinubu to power, Bawa would have completely succeeded in dragging Tinubu’s personality to the mud.
“He tried so hard to have ordered the arrest of Tinubu, three consecutive times through the Commission’s Zonal Head in Lagos, Mr. Ghali Ahmed.
“Whatever crimes Bawa committed could not have been done alone. therefore his co-perpetrators including those who shielded him should also be invited for questioning by the DSS”.
