BRIEFING NOTES
One of the most dominant topics in the country today is the issue of adherence to the rule of law or lack of it in appointments into federal positions.
Thus, the nomination of Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa as the Chairman-designate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC) is already generating controversy over whether or not it met the conditions stipulated in the EFCC Act 2004 with regards to the leadership of the commission.
While the nominee is eminently qualified to occupy the position by virtue of his rich resume, his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari, however, falls short of the expectations of the law.
The war against corruption must now be strengthened and refocused, writes Etim Etim
The appointment of a new chairman for the EFCC last week by President Muhammadu Buhari should bring the drift and commotion within the commission to an end and reposition it to perform its core functions more effectively. Although the commission has been fairly successful in its core mandate of fighting corruption, it has also been in the news for the wrong reasons bordering on mismanagement of its resources, poor accountability and political interference in its affairs.
There is so much for Abdulrasheed Bawa, the youthful new chairman selected from the rank of the commission’s Course One Cadets to do to reset the EFCC on a trajectory of professionalism, independence and service. The war against corruption must now be strengthened and refocused. The people who stole from the country should never be allowed a moment of peace. Mr. Bawa is the first non-policeman to head the agency, breaking from a 1
It was learnt that the report was forwarded to the President’s office, but the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, influenced how it was dumped and not acted upon by President Buhari.
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.
• Seeking Senate’s confirmation rubbishes FG’s earlier position, lawyers declare
Abdulrasheed Bawa will become first substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) without police training if his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari is confirmed by the Senate. x
It will be in line with one of the recommendations of the Ayo Salami panel, which investigated the commission and Ibrahim Magu last year.
Femi Adesina, Buhari’s spokesperson, on Tuesday, announced that the President had asked the Senate to confirm Bawa, who currently heads the Lagos zonal office of the EFCC, as substantive chairman of the commission.