Nigeria’s anti-graft agency denies corruption allegations against new boss Abdul Rasheed Bawa

EFCC says Bawa has no corruption record

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cleared the air on the alleged corruption leveled against the nominated chairman of the commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa.

Recall that few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari forwarded the name of the new Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman to the Senate for confirmation, a report surfaced online on an alleged corruption case involving the new chairman.

The EFCC in a statement titled Abdulrasheed Bawa Has “No Corruption Record – EFCC” signed by the Head, Media & Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren he stated that “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a report by an online publication, Peoples Gazette alleging that Mr. Adulrasheed Bawa, the Chairman-designate of the Commission, was arrested and detained by the Agency under former Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, over Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, over illegal sale of 244 forfeited trucks to proxies in Port Harcourt.”

“The publication claims that the illegal sale was uncovered by the suspended Secretary to the Commission, Ola Olukoyede, who alerted the former chairman, Ibrahim Magu, leading to Bawa’s detention and subsequent redeployment to the EFCC Academy, Abuja.”

The Commission wishes to state categorically that, Mr Bawa was never arrested or detained over sale of any assets.

“As Zonal Head of the Port Harcourt Office of the Commission in 2019, Bawa’s responsibilities did not include the sale of assets as the Commission has a full-fledged Directorate of Assets Forfeiture and Recovery Management, which remit such matters reside.”

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For the avoidance of doubt, disposal of finally forfeited trucks in the Port Harcourt Zonal Office through public auction was conducted after the exit of Bawa as Zonal Head. It is therefore illogical for him to have been indicted over an auction that was not superintended by him

“The auction of trucks at the Port Harcourt Office was among the issues examined by the Justice Ayo Salami Panel, leading to the suspension of some officers of the Commission.”

“The Commission, therefore, enjoins the public to disregard the false publication which is believed to be sponsored by mischief makers to impugn the integrity of the EFCC Chairman-designate.” The statement read.