A coalition requests that EFCC chief Bawa's contract be extended. Bola Badmus from Lagos Campaign for Dignity in Government (CDG), a coa...
A coalition requests that EFCC chief Bawa's contract be extended.
Bola Badmus from Lagos
Campaign for Dignity in Government (CDG), a coalition of civil society organizations, has advocated for an extension of Abdulrasheed Bawa's term as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), claiming that the anti-graft commission chief has done admirably in the role.
Comrade Nelson Ekujumi, Co-convener and President, Centre for Social and Economic Rights (CSER); Comrade Nichson Ufondu, Co-convener and President, Southern Coalition Movement (SCOM); and Comrade Alex Omotehinse, Co-convener, Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights, made the call on Monday at a press briefing held in Ikeja, Lagos, in the presence of other leaders of the organization (CHSR).
Olokoba stated that Bawa consistently deserved a place in the fight against corruption in Nigeria because of his integrity, intellectual prowess, dedication, and the skill of his legal team in resolving complex cases. He also stood out as a public service juggernaut who should not be trifled with in the fight against corruption due to his ability to not only ensure conviction through logical argument but also to be mindful of ensuring justice.
The rights advocate stated that since his appointment as head of the EFCC in 2021, there had been progress in the fight against corruption and the recovery of stolen property, noting that the number of convictions had increased to an unprecedented 2220 from just 1280 in 2019, which was the case in 2019.
In all regions of the nation, there was an increase in conviction and recovery. For instance, from 2016 to 2019, there were 195 convictions secured; by 2021, that number had reached an astonishing 2220, accounting for 98.47% of all cases presented before a court of law.
Around 150 billion naira were recovered in the same year, along with 386 million dollars, 1.182 million pounds sterling, and 156000 euros.
"The conviction total for 2022 was 3785, a 70% rise over the 2220 recorded in 2021, which is even more shocking for the forces of corruption and encouraging for the anti-corruption forces. Conviction rates for the year were 98.93%.
It is notable that these verdicts show the enforcement team's skill in making sure that arrests and prosecutions are founded on solid evidence rather than arbitrary justifications and motives, according to Olokoba.
While acknowledging that the EFCC, which will turn 20 in December, had its ups and downs, Olokoba argued that the commitment and sacrifices of the people who had steadfastly carried out their assigned roles in order to fulfill the mandate of the Anti-graft agency could not be separated from the successes recorded by the commission.
Olokoba claims that with Bawa in charge of the EFCC, dishonest politicians, public officials across party lines, con artists throughout geographical zones, as well as persons of all religions and faiths, now understand that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Commission.
For the first time in its history, Nigeria has had a five-year period of persistent, unwavering, impartial, and escalating anti-corruption efforts that have the backing of well-meaning citizens due to their transparency and unquestionable outcomes.
Just because a company has come out of a contentious history where people frequently wonder what will happen. Or do you believe in them? To one who has "mastered both starting and finishing," as they say in common usage. The long and short of it is that, under the supervision of a young and shrewd supervisor in the shape of Abdulrasheed Bawa, the EFCC cases over the past two years have been managed by a team that knows their onions and has brought expertise to bear on what they do. There are numerous reasons why it would be ineffective to desire to think with such a team, according to Olokoba.
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