Abdulrasheed Bawa: Why we invited suspended EFCC Chair – DSS

The Department of State Services (DSS), on Wednesday, June 14, 2024, said it has invited Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for questioning.

“Bawa arrived a few hours ago,” read a statement by DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya which was tweeted via the agency’s official Twitter handle at 10:48 pm on Wednesday. “The invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him.”

Afunanya said the invitation is to allow for a thorough investigation into his conduct while in office following “weighty allegations” of abuse of office against him.

A statement by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, on Wednesday evening, announced Bawa’s suspension.

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.”

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43-year-old Bawa was appointed by immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2021.

His appointment sparked criticism from the public over allegations of corruption. Bawa was accused of selling seized petroleum truck at ‘ridiculous prices’ when he was zonal head of Port-Harcourt Zonal Office and Lagos Zonal Office of the EFCC.