Senate okays Bawa as new EFCC boss

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday confirmed Abdulrasheed Bawa as the new chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bawa’s confirmation comes shortly after he appeared before the red chamber for his screening.

The new EFCC Chief was accompanied into the Senate Chambers by his family members and political associates.

The forty-year-old certified fraud examiner and anti-money laundering expert, as reliably gathered, has worked with the commission  for 16 years.

During his screening, he assured the lawmakers of his commitment to repositioning the commission by ensuring that the EFCC is in a better place before his tenure expires.

Bawa disclosed that he will work with strategic partners around the world to see that Nigeria benefits from the repatriation of assets stolen from her coffers.

“The EFCC will achieve its independent objective by sharing information with its partners”, he said.

The EFCC boss also promised that at the end of his tenure, the commission will be a better place than he met it, noting that his training by the FBI and the National Crime Agency of the United States and the United Kingdom respectively will come in handy. 

Responding to questions regarding what he will do differently from his predecessors, Mr. Bawa said he will reposition the commission by ensuring that it strengthens its standard operating procedures and improve on them.

He also stated that there will be more transparency and accountability.

While acknowledging that the EFFC has issues with the management of assets, the EFCC boss said he will embark on the digitization of the offices for proper record keeping.

He further noted that the constitution will guide his actions as EFCC Chairman.

He will be taking over from Mohammed Umar, who has been in an acting capacity since July 2020 after the suspension of Ibrahim Magu over allegations of gross misconduct.