The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa has said that calls for his resignation were backed by persons who are being investigated by the agency.
Bawa, who stated this during a press briefing on Tuesday said that the calls were merely a campaign of calumny meant to distract the EFCC and also pitch the public against it.
“Information available to the commission indicates that the group is sponsored by persons under investigation by the Commission.
“And have been mobilized and mandated by their paymaster to embarrass the person of the chairman through choreographed street protests across the country, until he is removed from office,” he said.
The EFCC chairman who spoke through the commission’s Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said that contrary to claims by the CSOs that the EFCC had undermined the judiciary, ” the Commission has never, and will not take any step to undermine the judiciary.
“As a law-abiding institution, EFCC has conducted all its activities within the ambit of the law.
“Where judicial decisions were made against it, it has never resorted to self-help but availed itself of remedies under the law as it did in the instant case of committal orders of court,” he said.
According to Bawa, the group found its voice after the EFCC launched an investigation into the mindless looting of the treasury of one of the states in the country.
“Their latest dance in the market square came a few hours after family members of a sitting state governor were arraigned at an Abuja court for allegedly stealing the state’s funds.
“EFCC appeals to the public to disregard the campaign by this group as they do not represent the genuine interest of millions of Nigerians who are desirous of seeing progress in the fight against corruption,” he said.
Speaking further, the EFCC boss explains the circumstances leading to the two orders of committal issued against him by the court.
He said that the first order by an FCT High Court on Nov. 8, 2022, was issued over the failure to comply with a Nov. 21, 2018 order of the court directing the Commission to return seized assets comprising a Range Rover SUV and the sum of N40 million to the applicant.
This order by the FCT High Court, he said was given three years before he became EFCC Chairman.
“Also, the contempt process is quasi-criminal in nature and must be served on the person involved. In this case, Bawa as Chairman of the EFCC was neither served Form 48 nor Form 49.
“In spite of this fact, the Executive Chairman, upon being made aware of the said order of Nov. 21, 2018, had released the Range Rover in question to the Applicant on the 27th of June, 2022.
“And, had approved the process of the release of the remaining N40 million before the committal order was issued,” he said.
Bawa said his response did not show contempt for the court or the judiciary which he held in great esteem.
He added that in the case of the last order by Justice R.O. Ayoola of the Kogi High Court, the processes were still ongoing, and would not make a categorical statement on it.
“Suffice it to say that in invoking Form 49, the court failed to take cognizance of a pending appeal of its ruling of November 30, which directed the Commission to produce a fraud suspect, one Ali Bello.
“It also failed to transmit records of appeal to the Court of Appeal.
“The commission believes it was denied a fair hearing as the alleged infringement of the rights of the applicant happened in Abuja which is outside the jurisdiction of the Kogi High court.
“As a law-abiding institution, EFCC approached the appellate court, for a stay of execution. This is a valid and lawful remedy by law and does not evoke any aura of impunity or disregard for the judiciary.
“ It is therefore evident that those claiming that Bawa has a penchant for flouting court orders are simply up to mischief, which is clearly the central theme of the plot by the so-called civil society group,” he said.
