Daniel Bwala, the spokesperson for the Presidential Campaign Organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 polls and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s administration for arresting and detaining the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, while crime suspects are being made ministers and emerging as lawmakers.
Bwala on Sunday on his Twitter handle asked Tinubu to intervene in the case of the suspended and detained EFCC boss, saying whatever he is being investigated does not involve an attempt to overthrow the Nigerian government.
“I appeal to Mr President to intervene in the case involving Abdulrasheed Bawa, the EFCC Chair. Whatever he is being investigated, I believe non involves attempt to over throw the government.
“This pattern of arresting, detaining and humiliating Anti-graft boss whilst the suspects become ministers and lawmakers will eventually kill the very institution of the EFCC,” the PDP chieftain said.
In June, President Tinubu suspended Bawa from office indefinitely, after which, the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested him.
He has remained in detention since then.
Bawa’s suspension came barely a month after the anti-graft agency under Bawa’s leadership revealed that it was investigating the then-Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, over allegations of corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion.
The EFCC had said that it was making the investigation known following the former governor’s move to cast aspersions on the integrity of the agency’s fight against corruption by making what the agency described as ‘farcical allegations’ of corruption in assets disposal and plea bargain procedure, among others.
However, not only was the EFCC chairman suspended indefinitely shortly after announcing that the agency was probing Matawalle. He was later arrested and has remained in detention to date.
President Tinubu has gone ahead to nominate Matawalle – a suspect being investigated for corrupt practices – for a ministerial position.
