Connect with us

News

Corruption allegations: 107 groups protest in Lagos, urges Tinubu to cleanse EFCC

Published

on

 

 

A conglomeration of about 107 Anti-Corruption crusade groups led by Crime and Corruption Monitors, has impressed on the incoming administration of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is cleaned of entrenched corrupt leadership symbolized by its current Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa.

 

KANO FOCUS reports that this follows a protest by the Anti-Corruption crusade Conglomerate, which was terminated at the Youths Sports Complex, Lagos.

 

The groups pointed out that EFCC is an important government agency in Nigeria, established primarily to rid the society of corruption and not conceived as an agency for settling scores for political godfathers.

 

The convener of the conglomerate, Idowu Bello who read the statement in Lagos warned that “If a government agency expected to fight crime is found going about its business in a manner that mimics witch-hunt and selective justice while also being unable to deal with the corruption going on within its own workforce, the nation is headed for real time crises, conflict of confidence.”

 

He noted that despite government’s claim of making the fight against corruption and related practices a top priority, EFCC, the agency charged with the execution of the war, is in questions over mounting allegations of monumental corrupt practices.

“Allegations that about 80 per cent of cases under EFCC investigation are not taken to court. EFCC offices now literally serve as courtrooms.

 

“Last week, Zamfara state governor, Bello Matawalle, alleged that Bawa demanded the sum of $2million from him as bribe to stop a purported probe against him.

 

“Even before Abdulrasheed Bawa was presented as substantive EFCC Chairman, he has been arrested and detained by the anti-graft agency in 2019 for selling at least 244 trucks worth between N20-30 million each to his proxies at N100,000 per unit.

 

“He is also accused of recently expanding a large amount of money to the tune of $300,000 for hotels and other activities, which is far and beyond his income as civil servant, during a visit to Mecca with his family on a lesser Hajj.

 

“There are also allegations of connivance with the Attorney General of the Federation,  Abubakar Malami in auctioning of sea vessels holding crude oil seized by the Federal Government, violating Section 31(2) and (4) of the EFCC Act 2004.”

 

According to him, Malami and Bawa also allegedly authorized the sale of vessels by companies under EFCC prosecution for similar offence of illegal bunkering.

 

“Bawa and Malami were fingered in the discontinuation of a N25billion criminal charge against Senator Danjuma Goje without any justification after over seven years of diligent investigation and prosecution.

 

“Equally, the incident of Abel Isah, an EFCC cadet in Sokoto who was allegedly beaten to death by superior officers for refusing to sign off on incomplete exhibits is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians,” the statement read.

 

The Crusaders however, demanded the immediate sack of Bawa as EFCC Chairman and to be subjected to wholistic probe the way his predecessor Ibrahim Magu was treated.

 

“Like every other agency of government everywhere, there are global standards of practice  for officials who had been accused of gross misconduct to step aside while investigations were conducted to ascertain the veracity of the allegations.

 

“As pointed out earlier several eminent eminent Nigerians have claimed to possess evidence of corrupt practices, breach of public trust and abuse of office against the EFCC and its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.

 

“It is based on the above observations that the Crime and Corruption Monitors and 107 Anti Corruption Crusade Groups deem it necessary to demand that Abdulrasheed Bawa excuses himself from office and surrender for investigation.

 

“We demand that if Bawa remains adamant,  he be forced out and subjected to comprehensive probe  the way his predecessor Ibrahim Magu was made to do.

 

“Since it is obvious by now that the Buhari administration which brought Abdulrasheed Bawa is not disposed to initiating action, we call on the incoming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make it first priority to cleanse the EFCC of corrupt leaders.

 

“Corruption is one of the most serious social and security challenges facing Nigeria today which is the more reason why Tinubu should see it as an existential matter that needs to be addressed and tackled robustly and defeated once for all.

 

“No nation can aspire to greatness or seek to remain secure and safe when corruption and other corrupt practices are allowed to find their way into all its vital institutions including the agency saddled with the responsibility of fighting it.

 

They added that, for this reason, corruption must be confronted  with the entire will and resolve of the incoming administration beginning with thorough cleansing of the EFCC by first getting Bawa out and subjecting him to probe before extending action to cover other organs and tiers of government in Nigeria without exception.

 

“Failure to do so will indubitably mean that every effort made the anti-graft agency is headed by suspicious leaders will defeat all development endeavours of the incoming administration and render its task the more difficult and futile.

 

“We remind the President-elect that National challenges such as the corruption we are faced with should not be treated with levity and condescension. Neither should action be limited to targeted individuals or tiers of government. On the contrary, corruption is a cross-national issue that affect every one of us regardless of where we live or come from,” the statement read.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

NCC visits NCA Ghana

Published

on

 

 

The Management of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has paid a benchmarking visit to its Ghana counterpart (the National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana in Ghana.

KANO FOCUS reports that the NCC team under the leadership of the Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida were received by the Ag. Director General, National Communications Authority (NCA), Ghana, Edmund Fianko, during a benchmarking visit of the NCC to the NCA in Ghana recently.

Continue Reading

Headlines

FG commissions National Cybersecurity Centre in BUK  

Published

on

 

Aminu Abdullahi

 

In a significant move to strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity landscape, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Tuesday, 20th May, 2025 commissioned a state-of-the-art National Cybersecurity Centre at Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

 

KANO FOCUS reports that the facility, unveiled, is poised to become a national hub for digital defense, innovation and talent development.

Dr. Jide Ajayi cutting the tape during the opening ceremony

Speaking during the commissioning, NITDA Director-General, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, described the center as more than just a physical structure—“a national asset”.

 

Represented by Dr. Jide Ajayi from the Zonal Coordination Department, Abdullahi noted that the Centre represents a strategic intervention to enhance cybersecurity education, research and cross-sector collaboration across Nigeria.

 

“This is not just the unveiling of a facility, it is the activation of a knowledge-driven platform designed to equip our nation with the tools, talent and infrastructure required to safeguard our digital space and empower the next generation of cybersecurity experts,” he stated.

 

He added that the center aligns with the objectives of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Minister’s Strategic Blueprint, serving as a springboard for collaboration among government, academia and industry stakeholders. It will support research, hands-on training, and act as a resource hub for regional and national partners working to secure Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.

 

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, expressed deep appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and NITDA’s leadership for what he described as a visionary and transformative investment in Nigeria’s higher education and national development.

Group picture taken during opening ceremony

“This Centre is more than just a building—it is a symbol of foresight, partnership and the Federal Government’s commitment to equipping our universities with critical infrastructure for 21st-century education,” said the Vice-Chancellor.

 

“Indeed, the entire Bayero University community is agog with happiness,” he added.

 

The event was well attended by a distinguished audience, including the Principal Officers of Bayero University, senior management staff from BUK, NITDA, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, and a large number of academic and administrative staff, along with enthusiastic participation from students..

Continue Reading

Headlines

Kwankwaso denies taking position on rumoured defection to APC

Published

on

 

 

 

The 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has debunked reaching a resolution with any individual on the trending defection rumoured to the ruling party or any other political party.

KANO FOCUS reports that Kwankwaso, who considered the recent statement credited to have suggested a particular position as an imagination of falsehood and fragmentation of political mischief against him.

A statement posted on his official X handle @KwankwasoRM, the ex-Governor insisted he has since refrained from commenting on contemporary political events, and will continue to do so for the time being.

In the said false information that went viral, Kwankwaso was quoted to have revealed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on multiple occasions, urging him to return to the APC fold.

Responding to a statement purportedly signed by one Ibrahim Rabiu, Sen. Kwankwaso insisted he had never signed or authorised any statement to be issued on his behalf.

“My attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly stating my position on the recurring political realignments. I wish to categorically state that such statements are false, unfounded, and products of political mischief.

“I have refrained from commenting on contemporary political events, and I will continue to do so for the time being.”

” I urge the public to only engage statements that come from my public handles and other official sources”. Kwankwaso RM.”

In a releted development, the author of the purported false statement Ibrahim Rabiu has issued a self counter, denouncing the statement as a work of devil.

“I Ibrahim Rabiu, wish to inform the general public that I was never authorised by Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso to issue and release a statement on his belhalf”

“I therefore wish to tender a public apology to his person with a promise that such childish act will never be repeated in the future, please find a space in your heart to forgive me, I was misled by fake news and agents of misinformation”

Continue Reading

Trending