ANEEJ calls for independent investigation of suspended EFCC Chairman

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, a leading anticorruption watchdog in Nigeria, has called for an independent investigation of the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa.

The Executive Director of ANEEJ, the Rev David Ugolor stated this in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

Rev. Ugolor also expressed deep concern over the recurring dismissal of EFCC chairpersons pointing that it does not only undermine the fight against corruption, but gives a wrong signal to the international anti-corruption community.

He expressed deep concern over the recurring incidences of removal of successive EFCC chairpersons. Recall the case of Farida Waziri, Ibrahim Magu and now Abdulrasheed Bawa and it undermines the fight against corruption.

According to him the case of Bawa is even more damaging, considering the weighty allegations made by former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mattawale against the suspended EFCC Chief.

“The President has to find a way round the current approach of firing a sitting EFCC chairman and start investigation.

“ In other climes, the approach is that you carry out your detailed investigations and be armed with your core evidence, you then proceed to arrest and charge to court.

“Here, the President announces removal, the State then arrests and starts shopping for evidence even for months and year

“ Since Ibrahim Magu was removed, the investigations have been on and on and nothing came out of it. Nigerians have not been told, till date what his offence was and if there was no offence, government should apologise to him.

““President Tinubu should rise beyond the traditional approach of removal of the EFCC Chair via fiat orders which creates a culture of instability in the crusade against corruption in Nigeria. I expected a new approach with the Tinubu’s administration.”

The ANEEJ helmsman further notes that an independent investigator will do a more thorough investigation that Nigerians and the international community would be proud of in taking the war against graft beyond the usual ways of doing things.