Nigeria's president suspends anti-corruption head

By Olanrewaju Kola

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has suspended the country’s anti-corruption and financial crimes commission head, according to an official announcement late Wednesday.

The suspension of the anti-corruption head was indefinite to allow investigation into his office, said Willie Bassey, a government spokesman.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension from office of Mr. AbdulRasheed Bawa as the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office,” read the official statement.

He said Bawa’s suspension resulted from “weighty allegations of abuse of office” leveled at him.

The spokesman said Bawa would hand over his duties to another senior official of the commission pending the appointment of a new head, in line with the president’s directions.

Bawa’s case saw two senior officials being suspended from office by Tinubu, who took office three weeks ago.

Last week, the president also axed the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, over alleged abuse of office and other crimes. He is still in the custody of the state secret police, the Department of State Service (DSS), since his suspension and arrest.

Nigerians have criticized Emefiele and Bawa for mishandling the nation’s economy and their inability to investigate powerful officials’ alleged corruption under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.