Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has questioned the hurried promotion of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who is set to face Senate screening soon.
Executive Director of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, expressed his view during an interview with Sunday PUNCH on Saturday.
Bawa, who was appointed by the President, Muhammadu Buhari, on February 16, 2021, was on Grade Level 13 and a Deputy Chief Detective Superintendent.
Nigerian lawyer, Osuagwu Ugochukwu, subsequently filed a suit before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, seeking to stop the Senate confirmation of Bawa.
The lawyer’s contention is that Bawa was not qualified based on Section 2 of the EFCC Act which states that a person who will be appointed as chairman of the commission must have at least 15 years experience and must be the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Police or its equivalent.
However, Bawa was on Friday, promoted to the rank of Chief Detective Superintendent ahead of his Senate screening. Hours later, announcements were made that other officers had been promoted while their letters would be handed to them later.
Speaking with Punch, the CACOL director described Bawa’s sudden promotion as an afterthought.
Adeniran said the promotion was not enough, adding that the acting EFCC chairman must address allegations that he diverted recovered assets.
He said, “We see this hurried promotion as an afterthought and a case of putting the cart before the horse. Why was the promotion given barely days after the appointment? Why did it have to be the kinsman of the attorney-general? Is Bawa the most senior core EFCC official?
“In any case, Bawa still has corruption allegations hanging on his neck which must be addressed if we are serious about fighting corruption.”