Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been summoned by the Department of State Security (DSS). In a statement released on Wednesday night, Peter Afunanya, the spokesperson of the DSS, confirmed that Bawa arrived at the DSS headquarters a few hours ago in response to the invitation. Afunanya stated that the invitation was related to ongoing investigative activities concerning Bawa.
Earlier, President Tinubu had approved Bawa’s suspension as the chairman of the EFCC and ordered an inquiry into his conduct while in office. The suspension was announced in a statement issued by Willie Bassey, the Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). The decision to suspend Bawa was made due to serious allegations of abuse of office leveled against him. The statement also instructed Bawa to hand over his responsibilities to Abdulkarim Chukkol, the Director of Operations in the commission.
It is noteworthy that Bawa is the second head of a government agency to be suspended by President Tinubu since assuming office. On June 9, Tinubu suspended Godwin Emefiele as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and ordered an investigation into his activities. Emefiele has been in the custody of the DSS for investigative reasons since then.