Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Hon. Kayode Oladele, has criticized calls for the removal of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman by some civil society organizations, saying the demand lacks merit and unsubstantiated.

He also described the call as “an unrealistic promotion of impunity and illegality not worthy of consideration by the President.”

In a statement issued during the weekend, Hon. Oladele maintained that the Abdulrasheed Bawa-led EFCC’s administration since inception has remained focused and committed in the fight against corruption across all sectors in the country.

According to him, the EFCC Chairman enjoys security of tenure; therefore, the recent reported call is encouraging executive recklessness and impunity. Rather, he enjoined support for the anti-graft agency as civil society groups are stakeholders and part of their anti-corruption advocacy.

In his words, “It was sad to read that some civil society organizations are demanding the sack of the EFCC boss, someone who has done extraordinarily well in the fight against corruption since 2021 when he was appointed. Abdulrasheed Bawa has track records in the commission spanning over eighteen years without allegations of bias or unethical behaviour.

“Abdulrasheed Bawa prior to his appointment as the Economic Financial Crime Commission Chairman has headed various positions which include the head of the commission’s operations zonal office in Lagos. He was also the zonal head, Port Harcourt Zonal Office overseeing Rivers, Bayelsa and Abia states operations from January 2019 to December. Bawa also headed the Counter-Terrorism and General Investigation/Pension Unit.”

“He has successfully investigated and testified in prosecution of many cases leading to convictions and recovery of looted monetary assets across the country.

“Hence, his competence and ability to perform his functions without fear or favor is not in doubt,” he added.

Hon. Oladele however, urged the commission to remain steadfast and undistracted in executing its statutory obligations, adding that the country needs the anti-graft agency in the fight against corruption now more than ever while calling on the civil societies to partner with the EFCC in the fight against corruption and financial crimes generally.

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