• Abdulkarim Chukkol, Director of Operations, takes over as Ag. Chairman
• Agbakoba, Shittu, ABUAD lecturer react
• DSS quizzes suspended EFCC boss
In what appears as continuation of his national cleansing, President Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr AbdulRasheed Bawa, to allow for proper investigation into his alleged misconduct while in office.
The Director, Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Willie Bassey, stated this in a statement made available to TheIdeal News last night.
TheIdeal News recalls that Tinubu had on Friday, June 9, suspended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, from office and appointed Mr Folashodun Shonubi as the acting CBN Governor, pending the conclusion of investigation against Emefiele.
Bassey further disclosed that the suspension of Bawa was sequel to weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.
The President also directed the EFCC’s Director of Operations (DOPS), Mr Abdulkarim Chukkol, to take over the affairs of the commission as the Acting Chairman of the anti-graft agency.
The statement reads in part, “ Bawa has been directed to immediately handover the affairs of his office to the Director of Operations (DOPS) in the Commission, who will oversee the affairs of the Office of the Chairman of the Commission pending the conclusion of the investigation. “
But two senior lawyers: former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN); Mr Wahab Shittu (SAN) and a senior lecturer at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Dr Tayo Oke have reacted to Bawa’s suspension as EFCC chairman.
Speaking on the matter, Agbakoba said that he is not surprised about Bawa’s suspension, saying that the action is long overdue.
He said, “ I’m not surprised about Bawa’s suspension by President Tinubu. It is long overdue. The young man did not understand the dictate of his office.
“This country needs a man that has capacity to fight corruption to standstill and do the needful.
“Just as President Tinubu emphasized the need for synergy when he met the service chiefs, we need someone in EFCC that can work in harmony with stakeholders and reduce corruption to barest minimum, not a rabble rouser without positive results. “
In his own reaction, Wahab Shittu (SAN) said Bawa should be accorded the right to fair hearing in his defence against the allegations levelled against him.
He said; “I really don’t have details.
My position is that he is entitled to fair hearing like any suspect under investigation.
“I think no one can challenge the prerogative of the President to suspend a sitting chair of EFCC as Section 11 of the Interpretation Act is clear on the point.
We await further developments as they unfold”.
Also reacting to the development, a Senior Lecturer at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Dr Tayo Oke said, “Bawa’s appointment as EFCC Chairman in 2021 was a classic case of style over substance. He has been suspended from office and is being made the subject of a criminal probe.
“I am not privy to the details of his dealings in office, and we should hold him innocent until proven guilty.
“My observation on the news of his ouster from office is one of relief that a man so palpably unfit for the exulted position of EFCC Chairman is finally being let go.
“Bawa was a man punching well above his weight. Such a lacklustre of a man had no business being Chairman of EFCC”.
Meanwhile, Bawa has been invited by the Department of State Services (DSS) for questioning while the suspended EFCC boss is now in the custody of the DSS where he is being quizzed by the operatives last night.
The Spokesman for the DSS, Peter Afunanya, also disclosed in a statement made available on Wednesday night that Bawa was invited after his suspension from office by the President.
The statement reads in part, “The Department of State Services has invited Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.”
“Bawa arrived a few hours ago. The invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him.”
It was further gathered that Bawa arrived at the headquarters of the DSS in Abuja at about 9:02pm and might likely spend the night in DSS’ custody.
But the details of the allegations levelled against Bawa are yet to be made public at press time.
