Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has indefinitely suspended the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), AbdulRasheed Bawa, from office.
Tinubu said this is to allow for a thorough investigation into his conduct while in office following “weighty allegations” of abuse of office against him.
This was contained in a statement by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, on Wednesday, June 14.
Bawa was, however, directed to immediately hand over to the Director, Operations in the Commission pending the conclusion of the investigation.
The statement read, “President Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension from office of AbdulRasheed Bawa, CON, as the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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 Acting EFCC Chairman
Mr. Abdulkarim Chukkol has stepped in as acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following the suspension of Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa by President Bola Tinubu.
Chukkol who was the Director of Operations of the Commission before the recent appointment, is a pioneer staffer of the Commission and an illustrious member of the EFCC Cadet Course One.
He is described as “a consummate and vastly experienced investigator with specialty in cybercrime and money laundering.”
A statement released by EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwajuren read, “His Command appointments in the Commission include spells as Head of the Advance Fee Fraud and Cybercrime Sections of the Lagos and Abuja Zonal Commands between 2011 -2016, pioneer Commander of the Uyo Zonal Command in 2017 and Commander of Port Harcourt Zonal Command in 2020.
“Chukkol has participated in several special operations with international law enforcement organizations and maintains close relationship with Law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, UK National Crime Agency, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Secret Service, Australian Federal Police, Dutch Police, German Police, South African Police etc.”
Chukkol has worked closely with other governments to develop law and infrastructure for carrying out law enforcement actions.
He is Nigeria’s contact person at the International Mass Marketing Fraud Working Group representing key government regulatory, law enforcement, prosecution, immigration and customs, financial intelligence, consumer protection agencies as well and trade and competition bureaus dealing with mass marketing-related issues from Spain, Nigeria, Belgium, Europol, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States.
