Buhari names 40-year-old Bawa as EFCC Chairman
….Group asks Senate to grant him fair screening
By Ayo Fadimu
President Muhammadu Buhari has announced 40-year-old Abdulrasheed Bawa as substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The President also sent his name to the Senate for confirmation.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina confirmed this development in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
In a letter to President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, the president said he was acting in accordance with Paragraph 2(3) of Part1, CAP E1 of EFCC Act, 2004.
Bawa, 40, is a trained EFCC investigator with vast experience in investigation and prosecution of advanced fee fraud cases, official corruption, bank fraud, money laundering and other economic crimes.
He has undergone several specialised trainings in different parts of the world and was one of the pioneer EFCC cadet officers in 2005.
Bawa holds a B.Sc. degree in Economics and Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy.
He takes over from the EFCC Director of Operations, Muhammad Umar who has been acting as EFCC boss since suspension and subsequent removal of Ibrahim Magu by President Buhari on July 7, 2020.
In the meantime, a group under the aegis of Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum has appealed to the Senate to grant fair hearing to Abdulrasheed Bawa, who was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman.
The Chairman of the anti-corruption group, Mr Prince Kpokpogri made the appeal in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja while commending Buhari for nominating Bawa for the position.
“It is a new dawn in EFCC, we are appealing to the Senate to consider Bawa worthy of this position by giving him a fair screening and confirmation.
“We also appeal to Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders to cooperate and work with the new EFCC boss,” he said.
Kpokpogri noted that if Bawa who is 40 was eventually appointed, he would be the youngest person to chair the commission.
Kpokpogri said the choice of replacing Magu with Bawa is the best thing to happen at the leadership level of the commission.
“For us in the civil society, we are happy that President Buhari has considered Abdulrasheed Bawa fit to head EFCC.
“We have agitated severally that a career officer within the commission should be given a chance, we are thanking President Buhari for giving us a listening ear,” he said.
He noted that having served and grew under all EFCC past chairmen, starting with Nuhu Ribadu, who recruited the first set of civilians into the commission, including Bawa in 2005, his competence was not in doubt.
According to him, Bawa was trained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and many other institutions in the UK, United States and in Nigeria.
He noted that Bawa had led a number of key corruption and financial crimes investigations including the infamous case of former Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke.
“He also lead the case of former Niger State governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu and that of the controversial crude oil swap,” he said.
Kpokpogri added that Bawa was also involved in the investigation of petroleum subsidy fraud (2012-2015).
He recalled that Bawa had headed EFCC zonal offices in Ibadan and Port Harcourt between June 2018 and December 2019 from where he was posted to Abuja as head of Capacity Development Division of the EFCC Academy in Karu.
According to Kpokpogri, Bawa has a listening ear and will always be ready to consult and carry all stakeholders along.
He assured that Bawa would bring about fresh air at the EFCC if eventually appointed.
