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Tag: Abdulrasheed Bawa

I’ve Been Receiving Death Threats – EFCC Boss
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa on Tuesday said some persons have threatened to kill him since he assumed office.
The anti-corruption agency boss stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily.
When he was asked to respond to President Muhammadu Buhari’s frequent “Corruption is fighting back” expression, Bawa said he was in New York, USA, last week when someone called and made the death threat.
“Last week I was in New York when a senior citizen received a phone call from somebody that is not even under investigation.
“The person said on phone, ‘I am going to kill the EFCC Chairman. I am going to kill him.’
“That is to tell you how bad it is. It is actually real. Corruption can fight back,” he said.
When he was asked further by the presenter if he gets death threats, the EFCC boss said, “Yes! Yes!”
Corruption And Real Estate
Bawa during the interview revealed that grand corrupt activities are done through real estate.
The anti-graft agency boss said 90% of resources are being laundered through real estate.
He explained that there are so many issues involved, but that they were working with the National Assembly to stop what he called “the gatekeepers” as there would be a reduction in looting if there is no one to launder the money.
“One of the problems we have in this country now is the real estate. 90 to 100 per cent of the resources are being laundered through real estate. Although they are being regulated, that is not enough in terms of how they make their returns to the special control unit against money laundering.
“A lot of issues that we can talk all day about but I think this particular area if we get it right, you will see that it will not be fashionable for us to have these grand scale corruption.”
June 15, 2021
EFCC to prioritise corruption prevention – Bawa
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, has said the commission will prioritise measures aimed at preventing corruption to save the huge cost of prosecuting corruption cases.
He said other measures undertaken by the agency included the re-launch of the inter-faith dialogue and instilling the culture of integrity among the youth.
Bawa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in New York, the United States of America (U.S.A), that one of the best means to fight corruption in the country was for Nigerians to have attitudinal change.
The EFCC boss said the commission was exploring Nigeria’s religious strength, adding that Nigerians are unarguably the most religious people on earth.
He said the EFCC had, in 2012, launched the interfaith dialogue, which brought the leadership of Christians and Islam in the country together.
“We developed a manual that we intend to give to these faith-based institutions to give to their followers and will also discuss the need to partner with the EFCC.
“We are working towards the second edition. Already, the leaders of these institutions have been incorporated and they are working towards re-launching it and ensuring the implementation of the manual.
“We want to tap on our religious strength in Nigeria because corruption can be checkmated with a change in attitude,” he said.
Bawa also told NAN that the commission was pushing for the establishment of anti-corruption studies in the school curriculum.
The EFCC boss said the commission had established integrity clubs in schools and at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps to instill the culture of integrity in the youth.
“We have anti-corruption clubs in some tertiary institutions and we are trying to push at the national level to include anti-corruption study in students’ curriculum.”
“The trend around the world is to include anti-corruption in schools’ curricula to be able to catch them young in terms of their understanding.
“By and large, when you look at the issue of corruption, it is about loving your country; it is about patriotism, about doing the right thing. This, to me, will make Nigeria better,” he said.
The EFCC boss emphasised the need to promote anti-corruption and culture of integrity in schools to make Nigeria a corrupt-free nation.
Also, Bawa said the EFCC had begun the process of carrying out fraud risk assessment on Federal Government agencies as part of efforts to fight corruption in the country.
“The idea is for us to advise government on vulnerability of those agencies to fraud and corruption.
“We have already engaged the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. They are willing to partner with us towards carrying fraud risk assessment on all the corporations under the ministry,” he said.
Bawa also advised Nigerians living outside the country to desist from cybercrimes.
He noted that Business Email Compromise (BEC) and wire fraud committed by some Nigerians was tarnishing the image of the country.
“Some of our brothers and sisters are involved in cybercrimes. It is terribly tarnishing our image back home.
“They (Diasporas) should talk to one another to desist from doing that,” he said.
June 7, 2021
Jewellery Forfeited By Diezani Worth N14.4bn – EFCC
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa has disclosed that the jewellery forfeited by the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke is worth N14.4 billion.
The EFCC chairman stated this before the House of Representatives committee on Friday.
He said the “jewelry forfeited from the former minister has been valued by relevant government agencies and the estimated value of the jewelry is 14.4 billion naira.”
Bawa noted that the estimated value of the houses seized and forfeited from Diezani is $80 million. The anti-graft boss stated that the assets are in the custody of the commission and have not been sold.
The House of Reps committee is assessing the status of all recovered loot moveable and immovable assets from 2002-2020 by agencies of government.
May 28, 2021
EFCC Recovers N1bn From Civil Servant — Bawa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, said it has recovered over N1 billion from a civil servant.
The Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa, disclosed this while appearing before the Senate Committee on Finance investigating the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of government agencies and payment of 1% stamp duty by contractors on all contracts awarded by MDAs between 2014- 2020.
There was, however, no mention of the name of the individual civil servant.
“There are a lot of leakages we need to block, it is not about generating revenue. we have recovered over a billion from civil servant sitting in an account last week,” Bawa told the Senate panel.
He, however, applauded the committee for its investigations, saying “After observing the proceedings and the process of investigation of the committee, I am happy with what is happening here. It is a good development that the committee is working towards blocking revenue leakages.
“At this point in the nation’s history, it is not only about generating revenue but also blocking leakages of revenue generated and still being generated by all these agencies of government,” he said.
Bawa said the EFCC would be willing to get the report of the committee upon completion of the investigation for further action.
May 20, 2021
We Have Recovered $153m, 80 Properties From Diezani – EFCC Boss
Abdulrasheed Bawa, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, says the anti-graft agency has recovered $153 million from Diezani Alison-Madueke, ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources.
Bawa also said the EFCC recovered the final forfeiture of over 80 properties in Nigeria valued at about $80 million from Alison-Madueke, who has been living in the United Kingdom, UK, since leaving office some years ago.
He explained that the EFCC is looking forward to having the former Minister in the country, to face trial, given that she was out of Nigeria’s jurisdiction.
This was contained in the April edition of the commission magazine, EFCC Alert.
“There are several issues surrounding Diezani’s case. I was part of that investigation, and we have done quite a lot. In one of the cases, we recovered $153 million; we have secured the final forfeiture of over 80 properties in Nigeria valued at about $80 million. We have done quite a bit on that.
“The other cases as it relates to the $115 million INEC bribery is also ongoing across the federation. We are looking forward to the time we will, maybe, have her in the country and, of course, review things and see what will happen going forward. The case has certainly not been abandoned,’’ Bawa said.
Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja had fixed May 17 for the EFCC to report on how it complied with the court order in the trial of Alison-Madueke.
The EFCC had accused Alison-Madueke of fleeing the country to the UK, to escape justice, among others.
May 12, 2021
Acting IGP orders withdrawal of senior Police officers from EFCC
Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali, has ordered an immediate withdrawal of all senior Police Officers attached to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The order was contained in a letter dated April 15, 2021 and addressed to the Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
The letter, signed on behalf of the IGP by his Principal Staff Officer, Idowu Owohunwa, an Acting Commissioner of Police, cited the current operational requirements as the reason for the withdrawal of the Police Officers.
The letter reads, “I write to extend the warmest regards of the Inspector-General of Police and to inform the chairman that the Inspector-General of Police has directed the withdrawal of all senior police officers from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police and above attached to your agency.”
“The decision is informed by the current operational requirements of the force. You are accordingly requested to kindly direct the immediate release of the concerned officers who are to collectively report to the undersigned on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 10am for further instructions.”
“I am to also request that you avail this office the comprehensive nominal roll of all police personnel attached to the EFCC to include their date of transfer and designations in the agency for the purpose of updating our records, “the letter reads.
April 21, 2021
Buhari Meets Newly Confirmed EFCC Boss
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met with the newly confirmed Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa.
They met behind closed-door at the Statehouse in Abuja.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, joined in the meeting minutes after it commenced.
Though the agenda of the meeting was not confirmed, the discourse is not unconnected with Bawa’s mandate as the new EFCC boss.
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February 25, 2021
New EFCC Boss Bawa Vows To Repatriate Looted Funds
The Chairmanship nominee of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has vowed to repatriate all looted assets stashed in foreign countries.
He made the pledge on Wednesday during his screening as chairman of the Commission at the Senate plenary.
He said he was aware of the enormity of the tasks as head of the anti-graft agency and pledged to discharge them with all sense of responsibility.
“My priority, if confirmed by the Senate, will be to repatriate all our stolen assets for the betterment of all Nigerians,” he said.
Bawa said his appointment had renewed the hope of many young Nigerians in the country and vowed to give them good representation so that more youths will get the opportunities to serve the country in different capacities.
February 24, 2021
BREAKING: Senate confirms Bawa as new EFCC Chairman
The Senate on Wednesday approved the nomination of Abdulrasheed Bawa for appointment as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC).
The confirmation followed over two hours of grilling by Senators who sought answers to various questions from the nominee.
In all, 19 Senators asked questions which were articulately responded to by Bawa.
Bawa, while answering questions, noted the EFCC establishment Act empowers the commission to investigate any person suspected to have acquired unexplained wealth without any formal petition in consonance with Unexplained Wealth Order and Act (UWO/UWA) obtainable in advanced countries.
He denied ever selling any asset recovered by the EFCC.
He insisted he is qualified for appointment as EFCC chairman by virtue of his qualifications, training, and rank in the Commission.
He said he was trained as a law enforcement officer to function as an EFCC operative.
He said the EFCC would review secondment of police officers to the Commission which will henceforth be on a need basis.
He promised to lead by example as EFCC chairman.
He said that he is contact with former EFCC chairmen including Ibrahim Magu who congratulated him on his appointment.
Details shortly….
February 24, 2021
BREAKING: Bawa arrives Senate for screening as EFCC chairman
The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has arrived at the Senate for screening,
The 40-year-old, if confirmed, will be the youngest person ever to serve as chairman of the nation’s foremost anti-corruption agency.
Bawa will also be the first core EFCC official and non-police officer to head the agency, a feat which has been hailed by a large majority of the EFCC staff.
The nominee’s appointment has, however, been met with criticism following allegations of corruption levelled against him by the previous EFCC leadership.
He is also believed to be the candidate of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
Details later
February 24, 2021