Group backs Bawa over graft war 

A northern group, Concerned Northern Forum, has hailed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, for his work and fight against corruption in Nigeria.

The group, however, described absurd corruption allegations against the EFCC boss, adding that such is a distraction to shift Bawa’s focus from fighting against corruption and other related financial crimes.

The group, through its chairman, Muhammad Sanni, said this in Abuja, on Monday.

Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, last week accused Bawa of requesting a sum of $2 million bribe from him.

The group described the ongoing allegations as smear campaigns by those who are not only jealous of the milestones achieved by Bawa as the youngest and the only career chairman of the commission but because they have skeletons in their closets.

Sanni urged the EFCC boss to remain fervent and continue in his fight against corruption.

The “allegations are not true, lack evidence, mostly twisted to misinform the general public,” and “circulated around by those who are afraid the eagle eyes of the EFCC are coming for them over embezzlement and misuse of public funds.”

He added that “No evidence is presented because it is fabricated, a concoction, and an effort by Matawalle to divert the attention of the public from the ongoing investigation on him over allegations of corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion. This is a known strategy by corrupt individuals to avoid a date with the law.”

Sanni further noted that Bawa’s Hajj to Mecca was not against public service rule since Bawa could finance the trip without any compromise to his job.