Transparency International Reacts To Bawa’s Suspension As EFCC Chairman

The Head of Transparency International, Nigeria, Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani, says the suspension of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, did not come to the organisation by surprise.

Rafsanjani, also the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday announced the suspension of the EFCC chairman in a statement by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Bawa was suspended based on “weighty allegations of abuse of office” levelled against him.

He said “The suspension did not come to us by surprise, this is because of the way and manner the previous regimes or governments have always removed the EFCC leaders when they come into power. For this development, with regard to the removal of the EFCC chairman, we believe that already we knew that he was going to be removed because of so many political interests and changes that can happen.”

He said “There are some political interests, some politicians associated with the government who also have issues with the current suspended EFCC chairman and therefore they are likely not to be comfortable to have him there.” Rafsanjani added that the EFCC office has been unnecessarily made to be too political.

Rafsanjani, however, said that ”what is important is that we must insist and demand that the anti-corruption and the good work of agencies, including EFCC must continue in the country.” He also advised the government to look beyond politics in appointing the next chairman of EFCC.