A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) has called for the resignation of Abdulrasheed Bawa, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over the ongoing issue of contempt of court.
According to Olufemi Lawson, the Chairman of the Centre for Public Accountability, the EFCC chairman has made it a practice to constantly disregard court rulings, which is why they are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to fire Bawa.
Lawson stated at a press conference in Lagos on Friday that the EFCC, led by Bawa, has a history of disobeying legal court orders.
He commented that Bawa had been sentenced to prison on three separate occasions within a month for a clear violation of the court’s existing instructions.
Lawson argued that the EFCC chief’s impunity has continued to mock the country in the international community and destroy efforts to attract foreign direct investment.
Worrying, he says, is the EFCC’s flagrant disregard for legal court rulings by the Bawa-led agency, which is supposed to be combatting corruption in the country.
On February 6, news outlets reported that a High Court in Kogi State ordered the arrest of Bawa by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba.
The court issued the order in response to Bawa’s apparent violation of a court order.
UPDATE: IGP Ordered By Court To Arrest, Detain EFCC Chairman, Bawa
The IGP was also instructed to put Bawa in Kuje prison for 14 days till he repents of his disdain.
In his decision, the sitting judge, Justice R.O. Ayoola, allowed the EFCC chairman’s appeal for committal to prison for defying a court rule delivered on November 30, 2022.
In response to the development, Lawson stated that Bawa should be fired if he refuses to follow the rule of law.
He submitted that “We must at this point make it clear that any form of disobedience to lawful orders of the court is not only an act of monumental corruption but is it also indicates a dangerous signal to the institutions of our democracy and the memories of those who sacrificed their lives for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.
“This culture of impunity as consistently exhibited by the EFCC chairman continues to ridicule Nigeria in the comity of nations and sabotage efforts at attracting foreign direct investment.
EFCC Boss, Bawa Sends Strong Warning To Commission Staff
“It is even more worrisome that this blatant disobedience of valid court orders by the Bawa-led EFCC is coming on the heels of efforts by stakeholders to galvanise more support for the war against corruption in the country.
“We hereby demand that President Buhari takes immediate steps to ensure that EFCC does not derail its avowed commitment to the rule of law and respect for the fundamental rights of citizens by removing Mr Bawa as the chairman of the commission.
“EFCC Gestapo-style regime of disobeying court orders must stop. Nigeria is not a banana republic. Attempts by institutions of state to ridicule the country and make it seem like a lawless fiefdom must be resisted by all. The EFCC seems to be allowing itself to be used as an instrument of a political witch hunt as it targets some individuals more than many others.”
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