EFCC: Bawa vows to work by the constitution rather than external Influence

By Sunday Joseph

The newly confirmed substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Abdulrasheed Bawa has vowed to work by the constitution and not by external influence.

Bawa spoke during the question and answer session at plenary said it applies also to ongoing investigations.
The organization according to him, will work on proactive approach and not being reactionary in the fight against corruption.
He disclosed to senators that he was not involved in the sale of trucks in port Harcourt, saying that the secretary and 3 directors sold the assets because they were forfeited to the federal government.
Bawa clarify the issues on witch hunting which he said has been trending since the inception of EFCC, however he said it would be addressed.
On media trial, he said most of the matters are in the public domain therefore it is beyond the control of the commission.
Deputy senate president Omo Agge said President Buhari’s nominee is a good product and his unique nomination has generated hope for millon’s of youths.

Bawa as EFCC Chairman, Excellent Choice, Says ex-Rep Karimi

Two time member of Federal House of Representatives, Hon Sunday Karimi has commended the recommendation of Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa as new Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In line with the recommendation of Justice Isa Ayo Salami’s panel, President Buhari on Tuesday broke the 18-year tradition of appointing policemen as chairman of the EFCC, with his choice of Bawa, a Course One EFCC Cadet product.

Bawa, if confirmed , will be the first EFCC’s cadet to head the commission. He will replace suspended Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu.

Hon Karimi, who represented Yagba Federal Constituency, Kogi State in the 7th and 8th Assembly, in a statement on Friday described Bawa’s choice as a round peg in a round hole.

According to the former Rep, “With my deep knowledge of the workings of the outfit in the last decade, the choice of Bawa provides an opportunity for an insider with excellent intellectual abilities, youthful vigor and a total shift from police lock up and charge and bail attitude to transformation into real professionalism in financial crimes investigation as it is carried out in other civilzed communities”.

Karimi declared that contrary to recent attempts to “run Mr Bawa down at all cost”, he is one of the few trusted hands in the organization that are incorriptible.

“He approaches his schedules with humility and he is a very sound officer. He will surely reposition EFCC as a top intelligence outfit. His choice presents an opportunity for those that were trained by the organization to lead the service”, he added

Insecurity will linger on unless Govt funds military, addresses infrastructure -Buratai

Tukur Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff has indicated that insecurity will persist for a longer time unless Government addresses insufficiet funding of its security achitecture, infrastructural deficit.
He also said military action alone can’t tackle security challenges in the country saying all hands must be on deck.

Buratai, a non-career ambassadorial designate, said this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for screening on Thursday in Abuja.
“One mistake that we have been making is that only the military can solve this. It is not. Military can not solve this, you know in the first place it wasn’t the military that started it.
He said political, economic and social factors were responsible for fuelling the security challenge over the years, adding that those factors must be addressed.
“There were political, social, economic aspects that needed to be addressed before we can be sure to end the insurgency.
“Development should be progressive, there should be road everywhere, there should be employment, there should also be schools, hospitals all over.
“This security challenge is something that started more than 30, or 40 years ago.
“It had penetrated the communities. The terrorists have won the communities to their side. That is why you see a small hamlet keeping Boko Haram in those locations, so it is a complex issue.
“So it requires the whole government approach to deal with this the military action is just one aspect.
On his part  the former Chief of Defence Staff Retired Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, told the committee members that tge solution to security challenges must be applied using a multi-dimensional approach.
” We are talking about hybrid warfare where everyone is involved. It is a national approach that is needed, for us to surmount insecurity.
“Three years ago I conducted a research on the forests in the country, I realised that we have about 1,000 forest reserves.
“And I said to them three years ago; that our next crisis will be in the forest, some Nigerian governors were invited, we told them because most of the forests are the prerogatives of the states, the state took over all the forest reserves.
“And I said to them we have to protect the forest, that the next programme will be the forest,” he said.
“So it is a multi-faceted approach, that will require everyone to come on board for us to be able to address insecurity.
“You can never have enough, either weapons, personnel, but there are issues we have to address as a nation.
“We have developed a lot of capacities and initiatives; we can begin to look at all the operations using national approach to address the issues of insecurity.”