According to Transparency International in Nigeria, the suspension of EFCC chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa was not unexpected because previous Nigerian administrations frequently utilised the anti-corruption organisation to settle political scores rather than combat corruption.
Head of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency Auwal Rafsanjani
This was stated by Rafsanjani, who serves as the centre’s executive director and is quoted in an Abuja interview.
In a statement released by the secretary’s office to the government of the federation on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu declared the head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been suspended (SGF).
A number of “heavy allegations of misuse of office” were made against Mr Bawa, which led to his suspension.
“We were not caught off guard by the suspension. This is because the EFCC leaders have always been ousted when new governments or administrations take office, according to Mr Rafsanjani. “With this development, in regards to the EFCC chairman’s departure, we believe that already we knew that he was going to be dismissed due to so many potential political interests and changes.”
Because of his affinity and the manner in which he was selected, he claimed Mr. Tinubu might not keep Bawa.
“Everything connected to that will be something he wants to get rid of. The representative for Transparency International in Nigeria continued, “There are also certain political interests, and some politicians linked with the government also have concerns with the current suspended EFCC chairman, so they are likely not to be comfortable having him there.
Rafsanjani stated that it is “impossible to perform what typically government agencies are meant to accomplish” because “the EFCC office has been inappropriately made to be too much political.”
But, he stressed that “what is crucial is that we must urge and demand that the anti-corruption and the good work of agencies, including EFCC, must continue in the country.” “So, we need to look at it from that context and from that perspective, therefore I’m not surprised,” he said.
He also suggested that while choosing the new EFCC chairman, Mr Tinubu’s administration looked outside of politics.
“I believe that making the next one’s office a technical professional office should come first and foremost while making the appointment. Make it less political, please. Let’s stop using that to resolve political disputes, Mr. Rafsanjani added.
He continued that we need to have a credibly experienced, fair-minded person to handle that job.
