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‘I’m in good condition,’ says EFCC chairman, Bawa

September 17, 2021 No Comments

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, said Thursday evening he is well and in good condition following a minor incident at a forum in Abuja.

Bawa, who addressed participants at the National Identity Day Celebration organized by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, earlier on Thursday, felt unwell and asked to be excused.

He was helped to his seat and taken to State House hospital for treatment.

The EFCC chairman later featured as a guest on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today, from his home in Abuja.

Bawa said: “I am ok, you can see that I am very much ok. Being the 16th of September, today is the National Identity Day and I was invited for a programme by NIMC, or specifically by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, and while giving my goodwill message during the programme, there was a bit of dizziness on me, and I had to excuse myself from the stage.

“Of course, I went straight to the hospital where the doctors confirmed that everything about me is okay except for the fact that I am a bit dehydrated and I need to take a lot of water.”

The anti-graft czar said he went straightaway from the hospital to his office to tidy up things and went home a few minutes later.

Politics

JUST IN: Panic as EFCC boss, Bawa, slumps at ASO Rock

September 16, 2021 No Comments

There was a bit of panic on Thursday after the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Abdulrasheed Bawa slumped at an event in Aso Rock.

Ripples Nigeria gathered that Bawa was delivering a keynote address on the importance of digital identification in commemoration of the National Identity Day when he slumped.

The EFCC Chief reportedly became emotional while speaking on the recent demise of a staff member of the commission which led to a halt in his address, as he reportedly covered his face with his palm, and had to be assured to his seat.

He however was said to have slumped on his seat.

Consequently, he was rushed out for medical attention in the company of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Isa Panatami.

Pantami, on his return, assured the petrified audience about the stable condition of Bawa.

More details to follow…

Entertainment

EFCC defends new chairman, Bawa, against corruption allegations

February 17, 2021 No Comments

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has defended the newly appointed chairman of the commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, claiming that there is no truth in the allegations of corruption levied against him.

The anti-graft agency’s defence is coming amidst allegations that Bawa was arrested and detained while serving as the zonal head of the EFCC in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital for allegedly selling off about 244 trucks seized from looters.

According to the allegations, Bawa sold the trucks that should have gone for between N20 million and N30 million each for a paltry sum of N100,000 each to his cronies, depriving the nation of N4.8 billion in recovery of looted funds.

The commission, however in a statement by its spokesman, Wilson Uwajuren on Tuesday, claimed Bawa has no corruption record.

The statement read in part: “The commission wishes to state categorically that Mr Bawa was never arrested or detained over sale of any assets.

“As zonal head of the Port Harcourt office of the commission in 2019, Bawa’s responsibilities did not include the sale of assets as the commission has a full-fledged Directorate of Assets Forfeiture and Recovery Management, which remit such matters.

For the avoidance of doubt, the disposal of finally forfeited trucks in the Port Harcourt zonal office through public auction, was conducted after the exit of Bawa as zonal head. It is therefore illogical for him to have been indicted over an auction that was not superintended by him.

“The auction of trucks at the Port Harcourt Office was among the issues examined by the Justice Ayo Salami Panel, leading to the suspension of some officers of the commission. The commission, therefore, enjoins the public to disregard the false publication which is believed to be sponsored by mischief makers to impugn the integrity of the EFCC chairman-designate.”

It would be recalled that the alleged diversion and sale of the trucks formed part of the allegations levied against the former acting Chairman of the agency, Ibrahim Magu, who was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari, and faced the Justice Ayo Salami-led Presidential Panel of Inquiry.

Reports that surfaced online after the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina announced Bawa’s appointment, have it that he was briefly detained in Port Harcourt before he was ordered to report at the EFCC Academy in Abuja, from where he was transferred to Lagos as the zonal head.