The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday absolved its new Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, of corruption allegations levelled against him.

Hours after his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari as the EFCC chairman on Tuesday, reports of his involvement in corruption surfaced

But the commission defended him, saying he had no corruption record.

Spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement on Tuesday while reacting to reports that Bawa was arrested and removed from his position as Port Harcourt zonal head of the commission for allegedly diverting 224 forfeited trucks.

The diversion of 224 forfeited trucks was one of the allegations levelled against Magu which was brought up before the Salami-led panel.

Bawa was also said to have appeared before the panel over the issue but said he had no hand in the auction of the assets as it was supervised by a different department.

The EFCC, in a statement titled, ‘Abdulrasheed Bawa Has No Corruption Record – EFCC’ said it “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.”

Bawa succeeded Ibrahim Magu, who was suspended in July 2020 when the President set up a panel led by Justice Ayo Salami to investigate allegations of corruptions against him.

Dateline Nigeria reports that Mr. Bawa joined the EFCC in 2005 and currently serves as the Head of the Lagos EFCC zonal office. He still has several officials senior to him, most of whom are policemen including the current acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Umar Mohammed, who is 55 years old.

Bawa’s appointment it was learnt was based on the Salami panel recommendation.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/efcc-defends-new-chair-as-graft-allegation-surfaces/%3famp=1

Naija my country

The excessive love of money has destroyed so many things.

Northernocracy.

Even Magu was a saint despite DSS reports of his criminality

Haa....now now?

Of course, he is a northerner. They can do no wrong apparently...

Come 2023 please do the needful and throw these parasites out of office..

Go and sin no more.

Typical Naija

Nigeria and fake news sa

The youth don't even know what they want, instead of us to commend Buhari for appointing the young man in such position we are here castigating him for unverified allegation, and those ethnic Bigots will not stop their own fooliness too.

We have a long way to go in Africa

They are stylishly reminding this one that we know your corruption case. If you step on toes too much, we will revisit your case.

He did well by appointing a young man.

First time I appreciate Buhari nominee's. Let's give him support. I believe he can deliver.

Ok

We hear oo

They're saints in the north while thieves are from the south...how come this parastatal has never been headed by a southerner.

Northerners ruling this country like a secret cult

efcc still dey function...

The Internet never forgets

He had no corruption charges against him

I find it hard to believe that it's just a coincidence that he is a northerner. Buhari and his style of leadership.

Can you imagine...

Someone who has corruption charges against him is made chairman of an anticorruption body...

It is well...

In Falz voice "This is NIGERIA Everybody is a CRIMINAL"

What do you expect from them to say?

Ask for the case file, you would hear that rat have eaten the file, or that the file is affected by Covid 19

Finally, Congratulations to the young guy/ boss

Okay

Omihanifa:
The Internet never forgets

smh what a country

Buhari has successfully make a mockery of everything in this country.

He ll be worse than Magu

Even if him get he is under buhari's protection.

The Agency he is now heading, didn't dismissed the allegations before but suddenly did now, Buhari is working.

The cabals will use this to fight him later on

No prosecution! No justice served but case dismissed.Buhari's government style of fighting corruption.Yet zombies on this forum will be talking shit

EFCC needs to be scrapped.......