By DAVID IORJA, Abuja –
President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa as substantive Chairman of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a letter to President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, the President said he was acting in accordance with Paragraph 2(3) of Part1, CAP E1 of EFCC Act 2004.
Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Femi Adesina, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.
Bawa, 40, is a trained EFCC investigator with vast experience in the investigation and prosecution of Advance Fee Fraud cases, official corruption, bank fraud, money laundering, and other economic crimes.
He has undergone several specialized trainings in different parts of the world, and was one of the pioneer EFCC Cadet Officers in 2005.
Bawa holds a B.Sc degree in Economics, and Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy.
If confirmed by the Senate, Bawa will replace Muhammed Umar who has been acting as EFCC chairman, following the suspension of the former acting boss of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, who was suspended on July 7, 2020 over allegations of fraud including the diversion of recovered funds and seized assets.
The 59-year old Magu, a Nigerian police officer, had served as acting chairman of the EFCC from 9 November 2015 amid a string of controversies that eventually led to his suspension and trial by a special presidential panel.
As learnt, the probe panel, chaired by retired president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, had recommended the sack and prosecution of Magu for alleged corruption and abuse of office.