It’s Illegal’ – Lawyer Pushes For Suspended EFCC Chairman’s Release

Calls for the release of the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has intensified after 33 days in the custody of the Department of State Services.

Naija News recalls that Bawa was suspended on June 14, 2023, and was arrested on the same day, hours after his suspension.

He has since been in the custody of the secret police without charges or trial.

The spokesperson of the DSS, Peter Afunanya, had on June 14 after Bawa’s arrest, said: “The Department of State Services has invited Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Bawa arrived a few hours ago. The invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him.”  

Reacting to Bawa’s continuous detention, an Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, told The Punch it was illegal for the DSS to keep Bawa in custody without trial.

He said, “Without any contradiction, the continued detention of Bawa by the secret police for over three weeks now is unconstitutional and a breach of the fundamental rights of the detainee.

“Illegality cannot beget another illegality. The DSS should immediately release Bawa to rejoin his family members without further delay, or charge him to court to face charges preferred against him by the Federal Government. Anything outside these two options is alien to law and won’t stand.”

Also, all attempts to get through to the DSS spokesperson on updates about Bawa proved abortive.

Recall that Bawa had allegedly refused to put down his statement in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Bawa, as gathered by Naija News, refused to corporate with the secret police, saying his detention was unlawful.

According to SaharaReporters, the suspended EFCC boss told DSS investigators that they had no right to detain him without charges; therefore he would not write his statement.

One of the inside sources said “The detained EFCC chairman has refused to write statements; he told DSS they have no right to detain him without charges.

“He was also accused of shielding former Governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari, while helping him to hunt down his opponents.”