The Arewa Civil Society Organisation has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's suspension of Abdulrasheed Bawa of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , and urged the President to completely overhaul the agency.
In a statement signed by it's Chairman, Adamu Aminu Musa, the group noted that the suspension of Abdulrasheed Bawa was a 'stich in time' because Bawa had allegedly, "constantly and continuously abused and misused his powers and office, engaging in various corrupt practices."
"As Chairman of the EFCC, Bawa failed to comply with section 6 of the establishment Act 2004 which empowers the EFCC to combat economic and financial crimes, thereby enabling the Commission to prevent, investigate, prosecute and penalize economic and financial crimes. Hence, suspending him is the first step towards making things right in the fight against corruption."
"We have been vindicated for our earlier stance on calling for the removal of Bawa, now the President has listened, this is very courageous and exemplary, and we must commend him for taking this bold and righteous decision."
'Moreso, most of our grievances that made us took that stance, are the reasons the DSS invited the suspended Chairman for questioning."
'They include various charges of abuse of office, accusation of stealing and alleged violation of the code of conduct for public officers..During Bawa's tenure as Chairman, the EFCC did not obey court orders, they give a contrary orders."
"He was never sincere in his fight against corruption, selectively picking those to be investigated while allowing the bigger fishes to walk around scot free."
"Bawa was a mistake, he was just on a witch hunt on orders of his godfather, Mallami Abubakar SAN. In 2021, Bawa's witch hunting hands were extended to the doorsteps of President Tinubu himself who was the then National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC). If not for divine intervention that brought President Tinubu to power, Bawa would have completely succeeded in dragging Tinubu's personality to the mud.
He tried so hard to have ordered the arrest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, three consecutive times through the Commission's Zonal head in Lagos "
The group alleged that whatever crimes Bawa committed, could not have done it alone, therefore his co-perpetrators, including those who shielded him should also be invited for questioning by the DSS.
"The DSS must continue to hold Bawa and his co-perpetrators to get all the answers needed. The EFCC has lost its credibility and bearing and has dented the fight against corruption, making Nigerians to no longer believe in it."
"Therefore, we advise Mr President to implement an overhaul of the anti corruption agency and a holistic change or dissolve the EFCC completely and replace it with a more reliable anti-graft agency that will stand the taste of time, because for now, EFCC has been turned into a money making agency through plea bargains and a weapon for witch hunting of opponents in order to earn back the trust of Nigerians and redeem the image of Nigeria before the world."
"We are giving the Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Abdulkarim Chukkol, 72 hours to obey all court orders and restore dignity and normalcy to the EFCC."
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