UPDATED: Suspended EFCC chairman, Bawa in DSS custody

Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was on Wednesday suspended by President Bola Tinubu.

The suspension of the anti-graft agency helmsman was announced in a statement by Willie Bassey, Director, Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR, has approved the indefinite suspension from office of Mr. AbdulRasheed Bawa, CON, as the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office.”

“This follows weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him. 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 read.

The development comes less than a week after Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was also suspended by the president, who ordered a probe of the apex bank under Emefiele’s watch.

There were several allegations against Bawa, but the most recent one was that of ex-Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State who accused him of demanding $2 million bribe, an allegation he denied.

Both Bawa and Emefiele met Tinubu separately at Aso Rock after the end of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.

Meanwhile the suspended EFCC boss is currently in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

It was learnt that Bawa arrived the headquarters of DSS at about 9:02pm.

A source said he’s currently being grilled by the operatives of the secret police.

Spokesman of the DSS, Peter Afunanya confirmed Bawa’s presence in a statement.

“The Department of State Services (DSS) has invited Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“Bawa arrived a few hours ago. The invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him”, the statement reads.