Suspended EFCC Chairman arrives DSS for questioning, Chukkol resumes in acting capacity

The Department of State Services (DSS) has invited the suspended Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa.

This development follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval of Bawa’s indefinite suspension “to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office”.

According to a statement by the Director of Information at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, the action follows “weighty” allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.

The suspended former Chairman AbdulRasheed Bawa arrived at the Department of States Service (DSS) office on Wednesday and has since been taken in for questioning.

This was disclosed by the secret police in a terse statement by its Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, on the night of Wednesday, June 14, 2023.

According to the service, Bawa was invited in relation to some investigative activities concerning his stewardship of the anti-graft commission.

The statement read: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has invited Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Bawa arrived a few hours ago.

“The invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him,” Afunanya added.

This development comes barely three hours after President Bola Tinubu suspended Bawa as EFCC chairman.

According to the President, the suspension takes effect immediately, while Bawa was directed to hand over the affairs of his office to the Director of Operations in the commission.

Hours after President Bola Tinubu suspended Abdulrasheed Bawa, as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the agency Director of Operation, Abdulkarim Chukkol took over in acting capacity.

The President had on Wednesday, following Bawa’s suspension, directed the erstwhile Chairman to hand over to the Director of Operation at the agency, to pave way for the investigation of weighty allegations of abuse of office leveled against him.

Chukol on Thursday assumed office in acting capacity at the anti graft agency’s headquarters in Abuja

Bawa’s suspension came five days after President Tinubu approved the suspension of Godwin Emefiele as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor.