Just In: President Buhari Meets New EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday hosted the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa at the State House in Abuja.

The meeting is the first between the two after Bawa was officially confirmed as the EFCC boss by the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday.

Naija News reports Bawa becomes the first non-police officer to head the foremost Nigerian anti-graft agency. At 40 years of age, he is also the youngest person ever to serve as EFCC Chairman.

It will be recalled that Bawa while speaking before the Senate on Wednesday said Nigeria must recover all stolen assets for the betterment of its citizens.

The New EFCC boss further stated that he will work with strategic partners around the world to see that Nigeria benefits from the repatriation of assets stolen from her coffers.

He added that the anti-graft agency will achieve its independent objective by sharing information with its partners.

Bawa during his screening promised that the constitution will guide his actions as the Chairman of EFCC.

He promised that at the end of his tenure, the EFCC will be a better place than he met it, noting that his training by the FBI and the National Crime Agency of the United States and the United Kingdom respectively will come in handy.

Meanwhile, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Itse Sagay has revealed why the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), will not allow the new EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to succeed.

In an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, Sagay said the reason is that the minister nominated the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for the position and would interfere in his duties.

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption alleged that Malami has been derailing the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government since he took over the position.

Sagay added that Malami had become too powerful and must not be allowed to directly control the activities of the EFCC and ICPC.

He maintained that Malami had never been inclined to support the independence of all anti-graft agencies in the country.

The senior advocate asserted that Malami is a politician who has all the weaknesses and loads of a politician, thus he is subjected to all kinds of temptation.