..Says Commission recovered N10.9billion from Lagos
…As Senate Confirms nominee
By Ignatius Okorocha
President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominee for appointment as chairman-designate for Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa vowed that he would recover all stolen assets from looters of the nation’s wealth if confirmed.
This was as Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment Bawa’s as EFCC chairmanship designate after grilling the nominee for over 2hours.
Senators at the screening paid glowing tributes to President Buhari for the choice of Bawa who they adjudged as must suitable for the position of chairmanship of the commission .
In his attempt to field questions from about 19 Senators, the nominee explained how he would reposition the commission to rid the country of corruption and money laundering.
Bawa who was narrating his experiences at the Lagos zonal headquarters of EFCC as head of operation, said the commission recovered about N90.9billion in 2020.
He dismissed claims that he was arrested by the former Acting Chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Magu for some undisclosed issues, saying that he has a good relationship with the former heads of the commission.
He also dismissed reports and questions on his qualifications to be appointed as EFCC chairman, saying that he was emminently qualified to be appointed to the position .
Bawa also told the Senate that he would work toward digitalisation of the operations of the commission if confirmed.
This ,he said would enable the commission display to Nigerians information on operations of the commission.
Bawa also said the commission recorded 216 convictions on cases prosecuted in court during his stay as Zonal Officer of the Port Harcourt Zonal office.
Bawa also said the EFCC had secured convinction of over 90 per cent of all cases prosecuted in court.
Bawa said if confirmed, he would work to enhance capacity of EFCC staff expecially on curbing money laundering and other financial crimes in the country.
He also said there was need to equip the training facilities at EFCC Academy in line with modern day procedures of fighting financial crimes.
Bawa,who promised to be transparent and accountable in the discharge of its duties also pledged to ultimately improve on the standard operational procedures in the various act acts, Laws governing operations of the commission.
On whether he was qualified to chair the commission given the allegation that he was not qualified to head the Agency, the chairman designate said given his experience an officer of the commission for the past 16 years in addition to his certificates, he is eminently qualified to chair the commission.
He also assured the lawmakers of his intention to carry out internal cleansing of the commission aimed at sensitizing the Agency for productive purposes on assumption of office as chief Executive.
