Business/ECONOMY
Kingsley Nwezeh looks at the nomination of Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa as the Chairman-designate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the controversies that led to the exit of his predecessors, the emerging, valid arguments about the lopsided appointments and violation of the federal character principle among others
The nomination of the Chairman-designate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC), Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, was applauded in many quarters as it presented an opportunity for a fresh start for an agency whose past leadership usually ended in controversial circumstances.
There is also the issue that the chairmanship of the commission now looks like a position reserved permanently for Northern Nigeria. Nobody from Southern Nigeria has occupied the seat since the establishment of the agency in 2004.
By Deji Elumoye, Kingsley Nwezeh and Udora Orizu in Abuja
There was excitement at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja and other zonal offices nationwide yesterday as President Muhammadu Buhari broke with tradition to pick an operative, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, as the next chairman of the commission.
Buhari in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, sought legislative approval for the 40-year-old nominee from Kebbi State.
If the Senate ratifies his nomination, Bawa will succeed Mr. Ibrahim Magu, who had been acting as EFCC chairman since November 9, 2015, until his suspension on July 7, 2020.
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Olalekan Adetayo,Eniola Akinkuotu and Sunday Aborisade
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday absolved its new Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, of allegations of corruption.
A few hours after the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), appointed him as the EFCC chairman on Tuesday, there were reports of his involvement in corruption.
But the commission defended him, saying he had no corruption record.
The EFCC Spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement on Tuesday while reacting to reports that Bawa was arrested and removed from his position as Port Harcourt zonal head of the commission for allegedly diverting 224 forfeited trucks.