•Bawa faces multiple probes
From Fred Itua, Abuja
Abdulkarim Chukkol, yesterday, assumed office as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an acting capacity, following the suspension of the erstwhile substantive head, Abdulrasheed Bawa, by the Federal Government.
Until this new role, Chukkol was the Director of Operations of the commission. The Borno State-born anti-corruption czar is a pioneer staff of the commission. He is an experienced investigator, with specialty in cybercrime and money laundering.
A statement made available to newsmen by the spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, noted that Chukkol held sway as Head, Advance Fee Fraud and Cybercrime Sections of the Lagos and Abuja Zonal Commands between 2011 -2016; pioneer Commander, Uyo Zonal Command in 2017; and Commander, Port Harcourt Zonal Command in 2020.
“Chukkol has participated in several special operations with international law enforcement organisations and maintains close relationship with law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, UK National Crime Agency, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Secret Service, Australian Federal Police, Dutch Police, German Police, South African Police etc,” the statement noted.
It added: “The acting EFCC boss has worked closely with other governments to develop law and infrastructure for carrying out law enforcement actions.
He is Nigeria’s contact person at the International Mass Marketing Fraud Working Group representing key government regulatory, law enforcement, prosecution, immigration and customs, financial intelligence, consumer protection agencies as well and trade and competition bureaus dealing with mass marketing-related issues from Spain, Nigeria, Belgium, Europol, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States.
“He has attended several courses, seminars and workshops on Public Corruption, Advance Fee Fraud and other economic and financial crimes, both locally and internationally, including the Oxford University, United Kingdom, in 2022.
“His work and initiatives over the years have earned him several awards and commendations, both locally and internationally, including “the Most Outstanding Award in Operations” by the EFCC and the “Outstanding Performance Award” by the United States Department of Justice, among others.
“The acting EFCC chairman holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Maiduguri (2000) and Post Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia, United States, as well as Graduate Diploma in Cyber security and Spectrum Management from the United States Telecommunication Training Institute, Washington DC, United States.
“He is also an alumnus of the FBI National Academy, Quantico; European Centre of Security Studies, Germany and a Fellow of the War College, Nigeria.”
On Wednesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Bawa, from office, indefinitely.
Tinubu said this was to allow for a thorough investigation into his conduct while in office following “weighty allegations ” of abuse of office against him.
This was contained in a statement by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, on Wednesday.
The statement read: “President Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension from office of AbdulRasheed Bawa, CON, as the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office. This follows weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.
“Mr Bawa has been directed to immediately handover the affairs of his office to the Director, Operations in the Commission, who will oversee the affairs of the Office of the Chairman of the Commission, pending the conclusion of the investigation.”
Bawa has been under fire since last year, when a face-off between him and the governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, ensued. Bello had called for his sack and alleged that he had been compromised. The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari ignored the calls.
Again, in May, immediate-past governor of Zamfara State, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, accused Bawa of soliciting $2 million from him in order to frustrate his case.
Daily Sun gathered that Bawa, who has been grilled by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS), is facing multiple probes over alleged compromise and collection of bribes when he held sway as chairman of EFCC. Bawa has not denied the claims.