President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has indefinitely suspended the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), AbdulRasheed Bawa, from office.
He said this 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, June 14, 2023.
Bawa was, however, directed to immediately handover 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 handover 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.”
It will be recalled that leadership succession at the EFCC since its inception in 2003 has always been embroiled in controversies.
In 2021, Bawa took over the helms of affairs at the commission under similar circumstances when his predecessor, Ibrahim Magu, was suspended from office by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, over allegations of corruption.
