President Bola Tinubu has suspended AbdulRasheed Bawa as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Mr Bawa faces “weighty allegations of abuse of office” and his removal will allow “for proper investigation into his conduct while in office,” a statement from the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation said Wednesday.
“Mr Bawa has been directed to immediately handover 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 signed by director of information Willie Bassey said.
Mr Bawa, 43, was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2021 as the youngest chairperson of the anti-graft agency. He replaced Ibrahim Magu.
His nomination by then attorney general, Abubakar Malami, drew criticisms with Itse Sagay, a top anti-corruption adviser to President Buhari, questioning Mr Bawa’s ability to work independently.
Mr Malami said the EFCC chairman was nominated based on competence.
In May, former governor of Zamfara state, Bello Matawalle, accused Mr Bawa of soliciting $2 million bribe from him. The EFCC denied the allegation.
Mr Bawa is the second senior official to be suspended by the new president following Friday’s suspension of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
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