Umar becomes acting EFCC Chair, as Bawa suspended indefinitely
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Aso Rock has named Mohammed Umar as acting Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman in place of Abdulrasheed Bawa who was suspended indefinitely on Wednesday is now being grilled by the Department of State Services (DSS).
A statement issued by DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya confirmed Bawa is in the custody of the secret police, who are also interrogating Godwin Emefiele who was suspended on June 9 as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) has invited Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Bawa arrived a few hours ago. The invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him,” Afunanya disclosed in a statement.
President Bola Tinubu suspended Emefiele to allow for the cleaning up of the CBN, and suspended Bawa over allegations of corruption against him.
A statement issued on Wednesday by Willie Bassey, Director of Information in Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, explained Tinubu suspended Bawa to allow for proper investigation of his conduct while in office.
“This follows weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him,” the statement said.
“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.”
Umar was instructed to take over in acting capacity.
“[Umar] has been directed by President Tinubu to take over the affairs of the commission, being the Director of Operations, after the suspension of Abdulrasheed Bawa,” a follow-up statement clarified.
Former Zamafara Governor Bello Matawalle recently alleged Bawa demanded $2 million bribe from him, and claimed he has the evidence on tape.
The EFCC countered the allegation was triggered by the investigation of Matawalle over alleged theft of N70 billion from Zamfara coffers.
But other critics recently alleged Bawa “operates like an emperor”, using his office to “intimidate, harass and force” people, financial institutions, and other government agencies to do his bidding with backing from his godfather in the corridors of power.
__________________________________________________________________
Related articles:
Buhari scoffs at Matawalle’s demand for EFCC probe of his officials, Ministers
Under Buhari, even lawmakers are stealing billions, says ICPC
Buhari’s genius may hand N500m mansion back to Dariye
Buhari’s pardon dampens morale of EFCC, ICPC officials
__________________________________________________________________
Bawa’s tenure of twists and turns
Arise TV reports that unlike his predecessors, the case of Bawa is enmeshed in twists and turns.
He was the architect of the poorly implemented naira redesign and currency swap policy in the last months of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Bawa allegedly sold the idea to the former President who told the CBN to run with it as Bawa pitched it would help curb money laundering, banditry, and other illegal movement of funds.
But during the campaign, Tinubu and many of his supporters expressed opposition to the policy they believed was targeted against the then-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
They saw the dual crises of naira and fuel scarcity at the time as contrived to hurt Tinubu’s run for the Villa.
“Even if they said there is no fuel, we will trek to vote. They have a lot of mischief. They could say there is no fuel. This one, too, they think can cause a crisis by sabotaging fuel supply,” Tinubu moaned on the stump in Abeokuta.
“They are sabotaging fuel supply. Whether there is fuel or not, whether there is Okada (motorcycle taxi) or not, whether there is tricycle [tax] or not, we will go and vote and we shall win.
“This is a superior revolution and when I tell you, you know what I mean. You know me; we are going there to win.
“They have been scheming to create a fuel crisis, but forget about it. Relax. I, Asiwaju, have told you that the issue of fuel supply will be permanently addressed.”
Tinubu camp taking its pound of flesh?
The general suspicion following Bawa’s suspension is that the Tinubu camp may be taking their pound of flesh over his role in the naira redesign and currency swap fiasco which led to naira scarcity and great hardship across the country.
However, except for the first EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, others, from Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Farida Waziri (rtd), to Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ibrahim Lamorde (rtd), AIG Ibrahim Magu (rtd), and now Bawa, all left office amid allegations of impropriety.
Bawa, the fourth EFCC Chairman, was appointed by Buhari on 16 February 2021, and confirmed by the Senate on 24 February 2021.
His appointment was a departure from his predecessors’ who were all picked from the police. He was the youngest EFCC boss appointed at 40, and was the only one chosen from within the graft buster.