The suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, had a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday afternoon, hours before his suspension was announced by the government.
Bawa was pictured walking out of the State House on the same afternoon, carrying his black bag and managing a smile.
It is not entirely clear what other discussions he had with Tinubu, but he was one of the earliest heads of agencies to be invited to debrief the president, when the latter assumed office on May 29.
SaharaReporters learnt from aides around Bawa that it was from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) that the EFCC boss first got the news of his suspension.
It was earlier reported that Tinubu suspended indefinitely Bawa, from office.
According to a release from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Bawa’s suspension is “to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office. This follows weighty allegation of abuse of office leveled against him.
“Mr Bawa has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Director, Operations in the commission, who will oversee the affairs of the Office of the Chairman pending the conclusion of investigation.”
Bawa’s suspension is coming days after Tinubu suspended the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, from office.
Emefiele’s suspension had been confirmed by Willie Bassey, the Director, Information, for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
He had said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, CFR, from office with immediate effect.
“This is sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.
“Mr Emefiele has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of investigation and the reforms.”
SaharaReporters
