Judiciary

DSS Detention : Bawa Heads to Court

By Web News 497

The embattled former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has sued the Department of State Services, DSS, for his continued detention without trial since June 14, 2023.

In the suit filed at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court for the Enforcement of Fundamental Rights, brought by one Barrister Chinedu Oburu of Edu Oburu & Co, Bawa sought an order of the court to declare his detention without trial as illegal and to direct his immediate release.

In the suit filed on October 20, 2023, the former EFCC chairman sought the following orders:

“A Declaration that the continued detention of the Applicant from June 14, 2023 till date without arraignment or criminal prosecution is a fragrant abuse and violation of his fundamental rights to freedom, liberty, and personal dignity.

“AN Order directing the Respondent to immediately release the Applicant from custody.

“And for further or other orders as the Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”

In an affidavit in support of the application before the court, the legal practitioner stated that the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed the applicant as the Chairman of the EFCC, one of the government institutions established to fight and curb corruption in Nigeria.

He noted that the applicant was suspended from office by the Federal Government on June 14, 2023, and was subsequently invited for interrogation by the respondent (SSS) herein.

He said, “That upon arrival at the offices of the respondent on June 14, 2023, the applicant was promptly detained.

“That since June 14, 2023 (over 120 days) that the applicant was detained, he has remained in the respondent’s detention facility without any criminal charge or trial proffered against him till date.

“That the continued illegal detention of the Chairman of the EFCC without any charge is an affront and assault on the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

“That the continued and indefinite detention of the EFCC chairman without any criminal charge is a necked assault on the Fundamental Rights of the Applicant as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”

He, however, stated that he brought the action in the overall interest of the applicant, the Nigerian public, democracy and rule of law in Nigeria, and the need to sustain the anti-corruption spirit and momentum.

 

Vanguard / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Crime

DSS Quizzes Ex- EFCC Chair, Bawa        

By Web News 1167

The suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, is being interrogated by operatives of the Department of State Services over his activities in the anti-graft agency.

The Spokesman for the DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, confirmed the invitation and arrival of Bawa at the secret police for the probe in a statement sent to Vanguard.

The statement said: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has invited Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“Bawa arrived a few hours ago. The invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him”.

The grilling of the EFCC chairman comes barely hours after he was indefinitely suspended from office by the President.

Culled / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Economy

Naira redesigning has no political motive – EFCC Boss

By Web News 638 Post a comment

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has said the decision to redesign the naira is aimed at returning hidden public funds.

Bawa stated this in an interview with Deutsche Welle DW Hausa Service, adding that the government wanted people who hid the funds to deposit them in bank accounts.

The EFCC chair insisted that there was no political motive behind the idea.

He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had evaluated and accepted the advice put forward by the Central Bank of Nigeria on the redesign of the naira.

He said, “These public funds were embezzled and we want them to return them; we have not told anyone not to bring this money out. What the government said was to deposit the money into bank accounts, or else sanctions may follow.

“The redesigning of the naira in law is expected to be done after every eight years; Nigeria has 20 years without redesigning, almost 80% of the naira is not in the bank and the CBN, its in the hands of people; so how can the government succeed? How can a country get 25% of foreign exchange which is a benefit from its currency in 10 days?

“There is no political motive behind this; some people siphoned and hid public funds and that is why we want them to bring them out.

“We are also calling on Nigerians and even non-Nigerians that all channels are accessible; if anyone knows someone who hid suspicious money, they should alert us and we will investigate it; when we investigate the money and get it, the whistleblower also gets 5 per cent.”

According to the EFCC boss, when the issue of the redesign of the naira came up, the dollar rose to N880, but later crashed to N680.

“It is just a mirage and maybe with this, the dollar may crash completely to even N200, who knows?” he added.

Meanwhile, the Senate has promised to provide legislative support for the Central Bank of Nigeria for the success of the policy.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Crime

Unveiling of Manuals: Buhari Commends Bawa, Urges Other Agencies to Emulate EFCC

By Web News 596

President Muhammadu Buhari today Friday March 25, 2022, commended the excellent performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission under the leadership of Abdulrasheed Bawa in securing 2,220 convictions and recovering over N152billion and $285m in one year.

The President who spoke at the unveiling of the EFCC Standard Operating Procedures, Policies, and Manuals, at the State House, Abuja, noted that the documents were in line with his administration’s vision to institutionalize the fight against corruption. “I am glad to note that the war against corruption, which is one of the cardinal objectives of this administration, is being strengthened through the institutionalization of operational procedures, particularly as they form the building blocks of transparency and accountability in administration and public expenditure,” he said

He advised Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, especially law Enforcement Agencies which were yet to standardize their processes to emulate the EFCC. “I would like to use this opportunity to encourage other Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, especially Law Enforcement Agencies to ensure the standardization of their processes within the extant laws and regulations as provided in our statutes.”

While pledging his administration’s commitment to “ensure the sustainability of initiatives already commenced in actualizing our vision of a corrupt free society”, President Buhari charged the EFCC to avoid being used for partisan politics or get dragged into personal disputes. In his words, “I must advise the leadership and operatives of this Commission to resist the temptation of being used for partisan politics or be dragged into personal disputes. Your job is to serve the nation in its efforts to entrench good governance”.

Earlier in his opening remarks, EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa said the unveiling of the 26 Standard Operating Procedures, and 25 Policies and Manuals of the Commission were in fulfillment of the pledge he made at his screening before the National Assembly, to discourage discretion in the work of the Commission by standardizing its processes and procedures.

He explained that with the Policies and Manuals, the Commission now boasts of a unique DNA as all personnel know what is expected of them per time.

He further disclosed that the Policies and Manuals were in tandem with the strategic vision of the Commission as contained in the EFCC Strategic Plan (2021 -2025). The Plan, according to him,  “is anchored on five objectives of increased public engagement, improved systems and processes, intelligence driven investigation, prosecution and assets recovery, improved law enforcement coordination and collaboration and  enhanced institutional and human capacity development”.

“We have in the last one year restructured the Departments and Units of the Commission for improved efficiency. I established a Department of Intelligence to drive my vision for intelligence-led investigation. The Commission designed and launched a crime reporting Application, Eagle Eye, the first of its kind in Nigeria. The App which was launched in July 2021 is now a treasure trove of intelligence for the Commission.

“I have also restructured the Legal and Prosecution Department and the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML. The training arm of the Commission, the EFCC Academy has been renovated and fully primed to deliver its objectives.

“The morale of staff of the Commission had also improved in the last one year,” he said.

Bawa commended the President for approving an enhanced welfare scheme for the Commission and concluded by saying that, “there is nothing wrong with Nigeria that cannot be right, with what is right about Nigeria.”

Among the documents unveiled are  Standard Operating Procedure for Departments and Units, Policies On Codes and Standards of Professional Behaviour; Use of Firearms and Ammunition, Orderly Room Trial; Staff Welfare; Document Security and Classification; Health, Safety and Environment; Sexual Harassment and Bullying, Health, Official Correspondence, Information and Communication Technology Acceptable Usage, Official Vehicles and Fleet, among others.

Oluwakayode  Banjo