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Enhancing Anti-Corruption Efforts: Unraveling The Detention Of AbdulRasheed Bawa
In a significant development, a consortium of prominent Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organizations has expressed deep concern over the suspension and confinement of AbdulRasheed Bawa, the former Chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
These groups have raised pertinent issues, underlining the necessity for transparency and equity in this process.
AbdulRasheed Bawa, who previously spearheaded the operations of EFCC, was apprehended by the Department of State Services (DSS) on June 14th.
Of particular concern is the glaring absence of formal charges or clarifications regarding his detainment up to the present day.
These organizations vehemently denounce this opacity and the lack of public engagement in this matter, asserting that such actions undermine the core tenets of justice and due process cherished by the nation.
In an official press release, the coalition has drawn attention to allegations against Bawa, originating from politicians presently aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and political party.
While the coalition acknowledges the gravity of these accusations, it remains circumspect about their timing and potential political motivations.
It emphatically advocates that the pursuit of justice must not be overshadowed by partisan interests, calling for a meticulous and impartial investigation and prosecution of the suspended Chairman, in the event of substantiated serious wrongdoings.
Shining a light on a disconcerting trend within the realm of EFCC leadership, these groups have underscored that former chairpersons such as Nuhu Ribadu, Farida Waziri, Ibrahim Lamorde, and Ibrahim Magu have all faced contentious dismissals from their positions.
The prolonged detention of AbdulRasheed Bawa without a proper trial raises even graver apprehensions and concerns.
The coalition contends that this prolonged confinement, devoid of due process, not only tarnishes the integrity of the fight against corruption but also casts doubts upon the motivations behind these actions.
These organizations posit that this situation conveys an alarming message about the nation’s commitment to eradicating corruption.
It prompts contemplation on whether the anti-corruption crusade remains potent when its leaders are subjected to vague allegations and prolonged incarceration.
Moreover, this incident gives rise to questions about the fairness of the judicial system and its susceptibility to political influence.
Additionally, the coalition spotlights the recurring pattern where no EFCC chairman has completed their term without facing allegations from politicians and eventual ousting from office without formal charges.
This pattern of allegations arouses suspicions about the underlying motivations behind these claims and the potential implications for the legitimacy of anti-corruption endeavors.
The consortium, however, urges the relevant authorities to promptly address these concerns, conduct an open and just inquiry, and uphold the principles of justice and the rule of law that serve as the bedrock of the nation’s prosperity.
As the nation eagerly awaits further updates on this unfolding narrative, the Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organizations underscore the importance of meticulously examining the circumstances surrounding AbdulRasheed Bawa’s suspension and confinement.
The inquiries posed by the coalition resonate with public discourse, advocating for a comprehensive exploration of the matter.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has denied being partisan in handling the failed recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Rotimi Oyekanmi, who was on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, explained how the Commission handled the process.
“In the case of the Kogi Central District, we received a petition and a cover letter and of course what Nigerians were saying was that we were taking sides,” Oyekanmi said on the programme.
“But what happened was that in the covering letter, the representatives of the petitioners did not include their address as required in our regulations and guidelines and what we just did was to ask them to supply their address, it has nothing to do with the petition.
“And of course, there is nowhere in the law where INEC is asked to reject a petition just because the cover letter did not contain the address. So, there was no hanky-panky in what we did.”
Earlier on Thursday, INEC rejected the petition to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, saying that it has not met the requirements.
The electoral commission said the petition to recall Senator Natasha did not meet constitutional requirements.
Senator Natasha was suspended for breaching Senate rules, prompting some of her constituents to initiate her recall. They claimed the move was to ensure their constituency did not lack representation following the suspension of the 45-year-old senator.
Asked whether there could be a repeat of the recall process, the INEC spokesperson said the law did not specify if the process could be repeated and how many times.
“The law just talks about the threshold, the threshold meaning that if you want to recall, you must have, in addition to your petition, 50 per cent plus one signatures. The law did not specify how many times you can undertake that,” he said.
The lawmaker has made headlines in recent months after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim the Akwa Ibom lawmaker has equally denied.
She was thereafter suspended by the Red Chamber for violation of its rule of conduct.
The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has handed over 19 kidnapped victims rescued by the security agencies to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
The brief ceremony took place on Thursday at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja.
The victims included Ambassador Gideon Yohanna, the former Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga (retired) who had spent 56 days in captivity and 17 others, including a child.
Both Ribadu and Musa pledged to remain relentless until the criminals are wiped out and normalcy restored in the country.
“As a result of the work of our armed forces and other security services, we are able to rescue and bring back our own people,” he said.
“This time, it involves important personalities who served this country. We thank God for their lives, we are grateful to those who made it possible.
“This is an ongoing operation and we are doing it quite silently, we will go after the bad ones.”
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Thursday applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for rejecting a petition to recall her as the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The female lawmaker, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said the electoral umpire should have thrown out the petition long before it did on April 3, 2025.
“I’m a lawyer. I’m a senator and I understand how Nigeria works. For me, the most important thing is this recall process has been stalled.
“I give kudos and credit to INEC even though I believe they should have thrown it away from the get-go.
“I think it was void ab initio because there is no law in the Electoral Act that says a petition should be discarded just because there is no address but again, what if the address is false?”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain argued that most of the addresses provided in the petition for her recall were false because most houses in her district weren’t labelled.
“Even though INEC did count 208,000 signatures, I bet you if they had gone into the verification stage, they would have struggled to even have 500 people come out to attest to signing that,” she added.
She accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Governor Usman Ododo and ex-governor Yahaya Bello of sponsoring her failed recall.
In a much-awaited statement on Thursday, INEC said the petition for the recall of the lawmaker did not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
“Therefore, no further action shall be taken on the recall of the Senator,” INEC declared.