By Our Reporters

A Northern group under the auspices of Arewa Civil Society Organisation, has lauded President Bola Tinubu for suspending the Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa for alleged fraud and abuse of power, while calling for investigation of his closest allies.

This was contained in a statement by by Chairman of the group, Adamu Musa, and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Kaduna.

He described Bawa's suspension as a stich in time that would save a few more than nine, noting that Bawa has constantly and continuously abused and miss-use his powers and office by engaging in various corrupt practices.

Musa added that as Chairman of the EFCC, Bawa failed to complied with section 6 of the establishment Act 2004 which empowers the EFCC to combat economic and financial crimes, thereby enabling the Commission to prevent, investigate, prosecute and penalize economic and financial crimes.

He therefore, said suspending Bawa was the first step towards making things right in the fight against corruption.

He noted that the group has been vindicated for their earlier stance on calling for the removal of Bawa, adding that the President has now listened, and making it a courageous and exemplary

"We must commend him for taking this bold and righteous decision,"he said.

Musa also noted that most of their grievances that made them took the stance, were the reasons the DSS invited the suspended Chairman for questioning.

He mentioned the reasons to include various charges of abuse of office, accused of stealing and selling dozens of petrol-bearing trucks confiscated from suspected looters, auctioning them off to his proxies at ridiculous prices while he was in charge of the Port Harcourt office of the EFCC and alleged violation of the code of conduct for public officers by owning properties beyond his legitimate income.

"During Bawa's tenure as Chairman, the EFCC did not obey court orders, they give a contrary orders that arm twist the bank, running alot of interferences in corruption investigations in order to stop cases against friends, allies, family and anyone willing to play their dirty games, making money through plea bargain, with backing from his god father and benefactor, the then Anthony General & Minister for Justice, Mallami AbubakaWith the treacherous support of his man Friday, Sheu Ala and one Rotimi Oyedepo, a lawyer within the commission which he uses to perpetrate his illegalities".

Speaking further, Musa said that Bawa was egocentric, at the detriment of Nigerian citizens, adding that he drives the selfish goals of his family, friends and loved ones.

"According to information at our disposal, in addition to the members of his family (with passport numbers BO122870 for Yusuf Mustafa Bawa, BO1248774 for Haruna Mustafa Bawa and A12754082 for Hassan Ibrahim Bawa) who are studying in Centurion University of Technology and Management fully sponsored by NIMASSA, In manipulating the plea bargain with the DG of NIMASA, Bawa got job for his sisters, Hassana and Hussaina Bawa.

"He also intimidated other agency heads in giving his relatives Hassana Bawa and Hussaina Bawa Jobs in UPStream, DPR and NDIC in January and March, 2023 respectively.

"He was never sincere in his fight against corruption, selectively picking those to be investigated while allowing the bigger fishes to walk around scot free.

"Making reference to the statement issued by the Government of the United States, that in terms of fighting corruption, the EFCC, have succeeded largely with low-level cases.

"Bawa was a mistake, he was just on a witch hunt on orders of his god father, Mallami Abubakar. In 2021, Bawa's witch hunting hands were extended to the doorsteps of President Tinubu himself who was the then National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

"If not for divine intervention that brought President Tinubu to power, Bawa would have completely succeeded in dragging Tinubu's personality to the mud. He tried so hard to have ordered the arrest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, three consecutive times through the Commission's Zonal head in Lagos, Mr. Ghali Ahmed.

"Whatever crimes Bawa committed, could not have done it alone, therefore his co-perpetrators, including Sheu Ala and Rotimi Oyedepo and those who shielded him should also be invited for questioning by the DSS.

"His Chief of Staff, Hadiza Ibrahim Gamawa, married to a Naval Officer, Zubairu and suspected lover of Bawa, whose son graduated from U K school in 2022, with public money, his Chairman Monitoring Unit 1, Shehu Ala, Chief abuser of public trust & confidence and his God father, Malami Abubakar SAN, should all be in the custody of DSS to answer questions for the crimes committed.

"The DSS must continue to hold Bawa and his co-perpetrators to get all the answers needed. The EFCC has lost it's credibility & bearing and has dented the fight against corruption, making Nigerians to no longer believe in it.

"Therefore, we advise Mr President to implement to the anti-corruption agency, an overhaul and holistic change or dissolve the EFCC completely and replace it with a more reliable anti-graft agency that will stand the taste of time, because for now, EFCC has been turned into a money making agency through plea bargains and a weapon for witch hunting of opponents in order to earn back the trust of Nigerians and redeem the image of Nigeria before the world.

"On a final note, we are giving the Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Abdulkarim Chukkol, 72 hours to obey all court orders and restore dignity and normalcy to the agency," he said.

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