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.