Senate Confirms Bawa As EFCC Chairman

The Senate on Wednesday at plenary confirmed the appointment of Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Commission after a two-hour session.

Bawa was ushered into the hallowed Chamber 11. 45am by the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Babajide Omoworare, rounded off the screening at 1. 55 pm.

Speaker and members of Kebbi State House of Assembly accompanied the nominee.

Speaking during the screening, the new Chairman denied an allegation that he sold the seized property in EFCC custody at its Port Harcourt Zonal office.

He said the seized property in Port Harcourt were properly disposed off by the agency’s officials from its headquarters.

The confirmed EFCC boss however assured that he will discharge his duties without fear or favour and would lead by example.

President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan had promised that senators can ask any question, just as he said that the screening will allow for a substantive Chairman for the anti-graft agency.

Recall that Lawan had said last week that the Nominee would be screened at the Hallowed Chamber. President of the Senate had said, “The screening of the Chairman-designate of the EFCC will be done in plenary, in keeping with our tradition here and in particular, for thoroughness it requires.”

The Senate had last week received a formal request from President Muhammadu Buhari, seeking the confirmation of the appointment of Abdulrasheed Bawa as Chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The letter which was addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, was read during the start of plenary.

According to President Buhari, the request to screen and confirm Bawa’s appointment as Substantive Chairman of the Commission was “in accordance with paragraph 2 subsection 2 of Part 1 CAP E1 of the EFCC Act 2004.”

Bawa, aged 40, who holds a B.Sc degree in Economics, and Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy, is presently the Head of Operations of the Commission’s Lagos office.

After his confirmation by the Senate, Bawa is expected to take over from Mohammed Umar Abba, who was appointed as Acting Chairman by President Buhari last year, following the suspension of the immediate past Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

It will be recalled that the vacuum of substantive chairman was created in the anti-graft agency with the suspension of Ibrahim Magu on July 6, 2020.

The agency had been under the headship of Ahmed Umar in an acting capacity since the suspension of Magu.