The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has hailed President Bola Tinubu for approving the indefinite suspension of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, AbdulRasheed Bawa, from office.
In a statement on Thursday by the anti-graft coalition’s Director of Administration and Programmes, Tola Oresanwo, on behalf of its Chairman, Mr Debo Adeniran, CACOL said the suspension was a welcome development that was long overdue.
“It was reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has indefinitely suspended the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, AbdulRasheed Bawa, from office, to allow for a thorough investigation into his conduct while in office following “weighty allegations” of abuse of office against him.
“The suspension of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, AbdulRasheed Bawa, from office is a welcome development that is long overdue due to the sensitive nature of his office. We had earlier joined other Civil Society Organisations to call on the immediate Past President, Muhammadu Buhari, to relieve Bawa of his appointment to allow for thorough investigations of allegations against him.
“It should be noted that we wrote the Senate not to confirm him based on the allegations levelled against him when he headed the Port Harcourt office of the anti-graft agency but the Attorney General smuggled him in and got the National Assembly to confirm him.
”Moreover, because of how and how the immediate past Acting Chairman of the agency, Ibrahim Magu, was eased out of EFCC, we opined that Magu was yet to be removed from the office permanently and that he was still the Acting Chairman of the agency. So by this action coming from the President, we have been vindicated as we have opposed Bawa’s nomination from the beginning.
“It must also be noted that we are not opposed to the commission’s mandate to fight corruption but we are opposed to the seeming politicization of the agency under Mr Bawa, its clear fixation on certain individuals in society, needless media trial, alleged corruption within the agency, and how EFCC officials act above the law by corrupting our judicial processes with impunity.
“We, therefore, commend President Bola Tinubu for heeding the people’s yearnings by taking drastic action which the past administration found too challenging. This singular action by the President would warn all others holding one position of authority or the other that they can be called to give an account of their stewardship at any time.
“We would like to advise that the selection of the next Chairman of the Commission be based on merit, and political consideration be downplayed. It will allow the agency to function and discharge its duties without fear or favour. The government should also support the good work of fighting corruption to a standstill by the agency”, it stated.
Recall that a statement from the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, on Wednesday, announced the suspension of Abdulrasheed.
