On Thursday, over 150 anti-corruption civil society organisations (CSOs) leaders and their supporters gathered to support and celebrate the suspension of Abdulrasheed Bawa, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They trooped out on the streets of Ikeja in Lagos, defying heavy rain and chanting solidarity songs, after which they converged in a hall to address a news conference.
They noted that the suspension of Mr Bawa and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, was long overdue.
Speaking for the CSOs, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) chairman, Debo Adeniran, said the coalition of CSOs in Nigeria was delighted about the indefinite suspension of Mr Bawa by President Bola Tinubu.
Mr Adeniran said the suspension of Bawa was a welcome development, as it was long overdue since being called for by the community of genuine anti-corruption organisations in the country.
He said the action was an opportunity for a thorough investigation into the conduct of Mr Bawa during his reign as the chairman of the EFCC.
According to him, the decision of the president is very timely, especially when coming at a time it has become necessary to shore up waning public confidence in the EFCC.
He said it was sad that the reign of Mr Bawa was characterised by grave allegations of disobedience to the rule of law about court orders, alleged massive corruption and mismanagement of recovered public funds and assets.
“For over six months, our coalition consistently demanded the removal of Bawa as chairman of the EFCC, based on several allegations of disobedience to the rule of law; allegations of personal enrichment; (the) subversion of the course of justice in particular cases prosecuted by the EFCC and open politicisation of the commission’s activities,” he said.
Mr Adeniran added, “Meanwhile, we are demanding a thorough probe of the activities of the EFCC during the reign of Bawa as chief executive of the commission.”
He said the coalition would partner Mr Tinubu’s government to ensure the survival of the anti-corruption efforts in the overall interest of the nation.
Mr Tinubu, on Wednesday, suspended Bawa indefinitely to allow for a thorough investigation into his conduct while in office following “weighty allegations” of abuse of office against him.
EFCC, under Mr Bawa, “had become a toothless bulldog running after the so-called ‘Yahoo boys’ and ignoring those who have committed monumental economic sabotage.” (NAN)
