A group of more than 100 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have reiterated their demand for the removal of Abdulrasheed Bawa, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over allegations of the politicization of the commission, non-compliance with court orders, and violation of human rights.
During a joint press conference held in Lagos on Tuesday, the activists stated that they had opposed Bawa’s confirmation before his appointment due to allegations of corrupt practices. However, Bawa has not cleared himself of these allegations.
The CSOs also called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to investigate the allegations thoroughly.
Debo Adeniran, Chairman of the Centre for Anti-corruption and Open Leadership, and Olufemi Lawson, Executive Director of the Centre for Public Accountability, accused Bawa of ignoring court judgments, including a ruling that sentenced him to prison for contempt of court.
The CSOs also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for dissociating the Presidency from acts of disobedience to court orders and for making the Central Bank of Nigeria comply with a Supreme Court order extending the validity of old naira notes.
They urged the President to intervene in the EFCC’s apparent fixation on certain individuals and the Chairman’s use of unwarranted media trials to score cheap political goals. The CSOs demanded that Bawa step aside until he purges himself of contempt, as ruled by the High Court.
