Bawa In DSS Custody Hours After Suspension By Tinubu

BY EDMOND ODOK – Hours after being suspended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over weighty allegations surrounding his performance in office, the embattled Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, is now cooling his feet in the Department of State Services (DSS)’s custody.

It was gathered that Bawa arrived at the headquarters of DSS at about 9:02 pm with a source hinting that he is currently being grilled by the DSS operatives.

The Secret Police Spokesman, Peter Afunanya confirmed Bawa’s presence in a terse statement released to the media on Wednesday night.

In the statement titled: “DSS INVITES MR ABDULRASHEED BAWA, SUSPENDED EFCC CHAIRMAN”, the Afunanya said; “The Department of State Services (DSS) has invited Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“Bawa arrived a few hours ago. The invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him”.

How Weighty Allegations Brought Bawa Down

Earlier on Wednesday, reports had emerged that President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate suspension of the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, from office.

A statement by the Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Willie Bassey, stated thus; “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), has approved the indefinite suspension from office of Mr. AbdulRasheed Bawa, CON, as the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 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 hand over 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”, the statement read.

Bawa’s suspension is coming less than a week after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, also suffered the same fate of being suspended by President Tinubu with a directive that his tenure at the apex Bank should be probed immediately.

Among the several allegations against Bawa include Zamfara State ex-Governor Bello Matawalle’s accusation that the suspended anti-graft agency boss demanded a $2 million bribe from him. However, Bawa had denied the allegation as ‘cheep blackmail’.

Interestingly, both Bawa and Emefiele had separately met with the President at the Presidential Villa days after May 29, 2023, when former President Muhammadu Buhari completed his eight years tenure.