Bawa’s EFCC focuses on scammers, fails to arraign ex-govs, VIPs

ALMOST 10 months in the saddle as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa-led anti-graft agency has not arraigned any politically exposed persons and other Very Important Persons for money laundering and embezzlement of public funds.

While the commission has been going after suspected cyber scammers and other petty criminals, it has yet to take those facing allegations of stealing billions of naira of public funds to court.

Bawa was appointed by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in February after his predecessor, Ibrahim Magu, was removed for alleged corruption.

The appointment of the 40-year-old from Kebbi State was believed to have been influenced by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, who also hailed from the state.

Investigations by our correspondent indicate that since assuring office, the EFCC under Bawa has been fixated with cyber scammers popularly known as Yahoo boys, with operatives storming hotels at odd hours on raids.

For instance, in July, the commission arrested 30 suspects during a raid on a hotel in the Lekki area of Lagos State.

The operatives were alleged to have gained entry into the occupants’ rooms by seizing the master cards from the hotel management at gunpoint.

About 24 occupants were said to have been arraigned for cyber scam after the raid.

In the early hours of September 14, the commission also raided three hotels in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and arrested 56 lodgers.

In the last 10 months, over 50 suspects arrested for cyber scam in various cities have been prosecuted or were facing trial.

While this is commendable, checks show that the anti-graft commission has not exerted the same energy in bringing VIPs, who pocketed billions of naira, to justice.

The arraignment of a former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, failed to hold at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on November 22, following a letter from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, calling for the review if the case.

Oduah, who currently represents Anambra North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, and eight others, were to be arraigned by the EFCC on alleged N5bn fraud.

The defence counsel, Oguh Onoja, told Justice Inyang Ekwo that there was a letter from the AGF to the EFCC for the review of the matter, but that the anti-graft agency had refused to return the case file as requested by Malami

Also, on October 16, a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, was interrogated over alleged non-remittance of N10bn pensions fund.

The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain reportedly turned himself in at the EFCC headquarters, after previously snubbing several invitations from the commission.

On October 24, the agency detained for a few days a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, in connection with the allegations against the former aviation minister, Stella Oduah.

On July 28, the EFCC quizzed and detained a former Nasarawa State governor, Tanko Al-Makura and his wife, Mairo, for misappropriation of billions of naira while in office.

Three days later, it questioned a former president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, over alleged misappropriation of public funds and money laundering.

Similarly, a former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, was on November 12 invited and quizzed for three days for allegedly diverting N1.6bn public funds.

None of these suspects have been arraigned in court.

Meanwhile, the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa said the EFCC did not have an effective strategy to combat money laundering.

The financial intelligence agency established by the Economic Community of West Africa States in its 2021 Mutual Evaluation Report, stated that the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, has a presence in only nine out of the 36 states in the country with 60 permanent and 43 ad hoc personnel.

It said, “SCUML is yet to implement a comprehensive risk-based framework for the supervision of all DNFBPs (Designated Non-Financial Business and Professions) currently registered with it.

“The number of entities registered with SCUML (more than 72,000) and the high but unknown number of unregistered DNFBPs impedes its ability to conduct effective monitoring for AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism) purposes. SCUML does not have an effective strategy to deal with this challenge.”

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached for comment as calls to his phone rang out. He had yet to respond to an SMS seeking his comments on the failure of the commission to arraign prominent Nigerians.

https://punchng.com/bawas-efcc-focuses-on-scammers-fails-to-arraign-ex-govs-vips/?amp

Are they not all thieves?? Who do they pay such huge and bogus salary and allowances and he is collecting it and still claim he's fighting corruption! Do you know how much is his salary and allowance in a year! It runs in billions and he's claiming to be fighting corruption! Restructure this big for nothing country and all this useless heads of nonsense agencies will go hungry...that's why they will never allow restructuring

Thieves are thieves everywhere in the world. Fighting Yahoo scammers will protect the reputation of Nigeria in the eyes of the world. The money scammers defraud people annually is too much to be ignored.
If care isn't taken many countries will ban Nigerians from entering their countries except for legitimate or official reasons!

ArewaNorth:
Thieves are thieves everywhere in the world. Fighting Yahoo scammers will protect the reputation of Nigeria in the eyes of the world. The money scammers defraud people annually is too much to be ignored.
If care isn't taken many countries will ban Nigerians from entering their countries except for legitimate or official reasons!

and the mostly shielded corrupt northern politicians

Boy dey follow order form above jejely....

Southerners must get some sense by force by fire

Because if they go after the governors and VIPs , Nigerians will start.crying about persecution, tribalism, and religious bigotry.

Anything to protect their side from being taken into custody.

Nigerians aren't ready to fight corruption. The day they are, things will happen

Well... Sometimes I feel the same way.
EFCC appears to only go after low hanging fruits.
If you are waiting for them to go after the banks (that are scamming people left right and center) for instance, you will wait for ever.

Ok

Ngj

ArewaNorth:
Thieves are thieves everywhere in the world. Fighting Yahoo scammers will protect the reputation of Nigeria in the eyes of the world. The money scammers defraud people annually is too much to be ignored.
If care isn't taken many countries will ban Nigerians from entering their countries except for legitimate or official reasons!

You’re not that bright Abdul!

How can someone like Peter Obi be walking free?

EFCC is a toothless bull dog. I do not expect any serious arrest from them as they all are same.

ArewaNorth:
Thieves are thieves everywhere in the world. Fighting Yahoo scammers will protect the reputation of Nigeria in the eyes of the world. The money scammers defraud people annually is too much to be ignored.
If care isn't taken many countries will ban Nigerians from entering their countries except for legitimate or official reasons!

The report doesn't say that they should not fight yahoo yahoo boys.

It only says that they should also prosecute politicians.

By the way, bad leadership by politicians may have been the cause of young people going into yahoo yahoo.

The report is basically saying that, while you should not leave the symptoms (yahoo yahoo), put more energy into the cause (corrupt politicians).

Or don't you think so?

SadiqBabaSani:
and the mostly shielded corrupt northern politicians

As well as a lot of Southern politicans , let's not lie.

In summary, Bawa is arresting their junior colleagues (cyber criminals a.k.a yahoo yahoo) while their senior colleagues (politicians a.k.a looters of the common wealth) are having a free pass.

ArewaNorth:
Thieves are thieves everywhere in the world. Fighting Yahoo scammers will protect the reputation of Nigeria in the eyes of the world. The money scammers defraud people annually is too much to be ignored.
If care isn't taken many countries will ban Nigerians from entering their countries except for legitimate or official reasons!

It’s funny how we concentrate on how the world see us, do not get me wrong I’m not in support of cyber thieving but what of those politicians?? It should be thorough in all aspect not sectarian.

Are you minding the fish brain ... Boko haram sponsors are still walking free

Useless bunch

RichDad1:

You’re not that bright Abdul!

Or
Idris.

Who told you we no go catch them? Any politician wei steal money by Jan 2023 we'll start Inveatigating and arresting them.

ArewaNorth:
Thieves are thieves everywhere in the world. Fighting Yahoo scammers will protect the reputation of Nigeria in the eyes of the world. The money scammers defraud people annually is too much to be ignored.
If care isn't taken many countries will ban Nigerians from entering their countries except for legitimate or official reasons!

If we have a working system, do you think most youths will venture into cyber crime? We have politicians who sit and eat the common wealth of the people, they flaunt it on the social media, their lazy children driving the most expensive cars etc. If the common wealth is evenly shared, a graduate will not finish from school to start looking for data.

Ps: I don't support crime but the system is.

Shebi bois never reason hin papa matter. Hin dey strong face like shit for pishure. Time go reach na target practice dem go take am do.. na joke i dey oo. No be here i wan drop this comment put. Ma sleep dey worri mi

TClipz:

It’s funny how we concentrate on how the world see us, do not get me wrong I’m not in support of cyber thieving but what of those politicians?? It should be thorough in all aspect not sectarian.

If they arrest politicans now, most of you will accuse efcc of partiality

Especially if they aresst politicans on your side.

He's part of the fraud, so don't expect anything special from him.

tunax5loon:


If we have a working system, do you think most youths will venture into cyber crime? We have politicians who sit and eat the common wealth of the people, they flaunt it on the social media, their lazy children driving the most expensive cars etc. If the common wealth is evenly shared, a graduate will not finish from school to start looking for data.

Ps: I don't support crime but the system is.

Fraud happens even in working countries.

Plus Nigeria is not developed because the basis of our economy is sharing money not being productive.Corruption is a side effect

That's why we have issues with job creation

Efcc always flexing power on Nigerian youths, while those who loot the present, future of the youths are left to enjoy.

Say No to fraud

ArewaNorth:
Thieves are thieves everywhere in the world. Fighting Yahoo scammers will protect the reputation of Nigeria in the eyes of the world. The money scammers defraud people annually is too much to be ignored.
If care isn't taken many countries will ban Nigerians from entering their countries except for legitimate or official reasons!

bullshit..
If we had a working system, how many Nigerians will indulge in such act. Nigerians are hardworking.

The government are the real scammers, taking loans and embezzling it without plans to repay.

Say No to fraud, Corruption, Nepotism

backbencher:


Fraud happens even in working countries.

Plus Nigeria is not developed because the basis of our economy is sharing money not being productive.Corruption is a side effect

That's why we have issues with job creation

That's true but here in Nigeria, larger percentage of young minds even graduates venture into this cyber thing because they see it as a means of survival.

ArewaNorth:
Thieves are thieves everywhere in the world. Fighting Yahoo scammers will protect the reputation of Nigeria in the eyes of the world. The money scammers defraud people annually is too much to be ignored.
If care isn't taken many countries will ban Nigerians from entering their countries except for legitimate or official reasons!

Why would you go to a new country without legitimate reason?

[s]

athaboi:
Are they not all thieves?? Who do they pay such huge and bogus salary and allowances and he is collecting it and still claim he's fighting corruption! Do you know how much is his salary and allowance in a year! It runs in billions and he's claiming to be fighting corruption! Restructure this big for nothing country and all this useless heads of nonsense agencies will go hungry...that's why they will never allow restructuring

[/s]

Stop talking rubbish. Which billions Mtscheeeew

tunax5loon:


That's true but here in Nigeria, larger percentage of young minds even graduates venture into this cyber thing because they see it as a means of survival.

And large numbers of young minds do legit business in spite of the system

Fraudsters do fraud because they want to get rich quick. Even if 'system was working', many of them would do it.

tunax5loon:


That's true but here in Nigeria, larger percentage of young minds even graduates venture into this cyber thing because they see it as a means of survival.

Not survival. They are lazy and want fast wealth. Survival is selling pure water or bons. Not becoming a thief. There's no excuse for theft and stealing whether physically or through cyber