EFCC Chairman AbdulRasheed Bawa Suspended Indefinitely by President Tinubu

By: Ogunleye Oluwapelumi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of AbdulRasheed Bawa, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The suspension was announced on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, following allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.

Bawa has been directed to hand over the affairs of his office to the Director of Operations in the Commission, who will oversee the affairs of the Office of the Chairman of the Commission pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The suspension of Bawa is a major blow to the EFCC, which has been struggling to maintain its credibility in recent years. The agency has been criticised for its handling of high-profile corruption cases, with many accusing it of being used as a political tool to target opposition politicians.

The suspension of Bawa is likely to further damage the reputation of the agency and raise questions about its ability to effectively tackle corruption in Nigeria.

The EFCC has not yet issued a statement on the matter. However, sources within the agency have expressed shock at the news of Bawa’s suspension. Many are calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations levelled against him and for the agency to be reformed to ensure that it can effectively carry out its mandate to fight corruption in Nigeria.