Power reshuffle: Tinubu suspends EFCC Chairman, as panic rises among Buhari’s appointees

…Bawa to undergo investigation over weighty allegations, conduct in office

…Emefiele’s example spurs anxiety

In what appears as an ongoing shake-up of the administrative organ of the government, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday indefinitely suspended the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), AbdulRasheed Bawa, from office.

According to him, the development is to allow for a thorough investigation into his conduct while in office following “weighty allegations” of abuse of office against him.

This was contained in a statement by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, on Wednesday.

Bawa was directed to immediately hand over to the Director, Operations in the Commission pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The statement read: “President Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension from office of AbdulRasheed Bawa, CON, as the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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 hand over 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.”

Bawa who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari took over the affairs of the EFCC in February 2021 from Mohammed Umar who was in acting capacity since July 2020 after the suspension of Ibrahim Magu on allegations of corruption.

The suspension of Bawa appears to be one in a series of shake downs feared would be taking place across the administrative circle of the government, particularly those on appointment portfolio.

Recall that last Friday, President Tinubu as a first strike, had ordered the immediate suspension of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, from office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The suspension which took immediate effect was disclosed by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey in a statement on Friday night.

He explained that the suspension of the CBN Governor was based on an ongoing investigation as well as planned reforms in the financial sector.

He added that Emefiele has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate) pending the conclusion of the investigation and the reforms.

The statement partly had read, “President Bola Tinubu has suspended the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, from office with immediate effect.

“This is sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.

“Emefiele has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of the investigation and the reforms.”

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, last week, had summoned Emefiele, over a $53million judgement debt arising from the Paris Club refunds.

The presiding judge, Inyang Ekwo, mandated that the court will not hear Emefiele’s motion for stay until he appears before it.

In 2022, Emefiele reportedly was initially invited to appear before the court on January 18, 2023, to explain his refusal to obey a valid order for payment of a $70milion debt.

The CBN Governor allegedly only released $17 million, leaving $53 million in unpaid debt.

Following his suspension, the Department of State Services (DSS) on Saturday, confirmed that Emefiele, was now in its custody.

This was made known in a statement via the agency’s Twitter handle on Saturday, June 10, 2023.

The statement had read, “The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria is now in its custody for some investigative reasons.

“The public, particularly the media, is enjoined to apply utmost caution in the reportage and narratives concerning this.”

Trailing the suspension, there has been speculation which has generated fears among public officials with appointment portfolios, particularly among those appointed by the immediate past President, Buhari.

Barely 24 hours after Emefiele’s suspension rumours over the suspension of Mallam Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, took widespread on social media, though confidential sources within the presidency and the NPPCL discredited it.

On Bawa’s case, recall that opposition against him had recorded calls for his removal dating back to the immediate past administration.

In March, over 130 frontline anti-corruption civil society organisations had renewed their call for his resignation  on allegation of politicisation of the Commission, disobedience of court orders, and violation of Nigerians’ human rights, among other things.

The activists who were joined by over 20 Constitutional lawyers, led by Barr. Mogbojuri Kayode of the Citizens Rights Advocacy Group, had noted that the desperation of Bawa to save his face after dishonourable acts in office had taken a laughable turn, insisting that no amount of “purchased CSOs’ vote of confidence” would cover the truth about the abnormalities being condoned in EFCC under his leadership.

The leaders of the struggle had said it was a thing of honour that, despite the immense pressure mounted on leaders of the “Bawa Must Go” protests to abandon their objective cause, over 120 of the main actors had remained resolute while more had joined in the interest of the rule of law.

The call for his removal were, however, resisted from some quarters which believe he is a victim of circumstances of corruption fighting back.