Transparency International ‘not surprised’ because EFCC is politicised
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Transparency International (TI) says it is not surprised by the suspension of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa because the office is politicised and used to settle political scores.
President Bola Tinubu last Wednesday announced the suspension of Bawa in a statement issued by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) which cited against him “weighty allegations of abuse of office.”
“The suspension did not come to us by surprise, this is because of the way and manner the previous regimes or governments have always removed the EFCC leaders when they come into power.,” TI Nigeria Head Auwal Rafsanjani told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
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EFCC too political
“For this development, with regard to the removal of the EFCC chairman, we believe that already we knew that he was going to be removed because of so many political interests and changes that can happen, “ Rafsanjani added, per reporting by The PUNCH.
Rafsanjani, who is also Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CSLAC) Executive Director, said Tinubu may not retain Bawa because of how he was appointed and his affiliation.
“He [Tinubu] will want to get rid of anything that has to do with that.
“Also there are some political interests, some politicians associated with the government also have issues with the current suspended EFCC Chairman and therefore they are likely not to be comfortable to have him there.
“The EFCC office has been unnecessarily made to be too much political. Therefore, it is making it difficult to do what ordinarily government agency is supposed to do.
“So, we need to look at it from that context and from that perspective, so I’m not surprised.
“What is important is that we must insist and demand that the anti-corruption and the good work of agencies, including EFCC, must continue in the country.”
Rafsanjani advised Abuja to look beyond politics in appointing a new EFCC Chairman.
“In appointing the next one, I think first and foremost, let’s make that office to be a technical professional office. Let’s make it less political, let us remove the use of that to settle political issues.
“I think we need to have a credibly experienced, fairly minded person to carry out that responsibility.”
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