EFCC defends Bawa, says he’s not corrupt

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has risen to defend its newly appointed head, Abdulrasheed Bawa, refuting the media reports that he has a record of corruption.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwajaren said Bawa was never arrested or detained for allegedly selling assets.

A report had claimed that Bawa was arrested by former EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu over the illegal sales of some forfeited trucks in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The alleged illegal sale was said to have been uncovered by the suspended Secretary of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, who alerted Magu, thereby leading to Bawa’s detention and subsequent redeployment to the EFCC Academy in Abuja.

However, Uwajaren disclosed that the disposal of forfeited trucks in EFCC’s Port Harcourt zonal office through public auction was conducted after Bawa’s tenure as Zonal Head.

A statement by Uwajaren read: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been drawn to a report by an online publication, Peoples Gazette, alleging that Mr. Adulrasheed Bawa, the Chairman-designate of the Commission, was arrested and detained by the Agency under former Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, over illegal sale of 244 forfeited trucks to proxies in Port Harcourt.

“The Commission wishes to state categorically that, Mr Bawa was never arrested or detained over sale of any assets. As Zonal Head of the Port Harcourt Office of the Commission in 2019, Bawa’s responsibilities did not include the sale of assets as the Commission has a full-fledge Directorate of Assets Forfeiture and Recovery Management, which remit such matters reside.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the disposal of finally forfeited trucks in the Port Harcourt Zonal Office through public auction, was conducted after the exit of Bawa as Zonal Head. It is therefore illogical for him to have been indicted over an auction that was not superintended by him.”

Uwajaren urged Nigerians to disregard the false report which it claimed was the handi-work of mischief makers aimed at rubbising Bawa’s integrity.

Buhari had nominated Bawa as the substantive Chairman of the anti-graft agency.

The President had written to the Senate demanding the confirmation of Bawa as EFCC substantive chairman.