EFCC Reacts To Chairman Bawa's Conviction

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has faulted the conviction of its chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa on a charge of contempt.

The commission while responding to the ruling on Tuesday night said its chairman did not disobey any court order.

Speaking via a statement through its spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren, it described Bawa as an advocate of the rule of law and due process who would not disobey any legitimate court order.

According to EFCC, the court ruling creates a wrong impression of the person of the EFCC chairman as “encouraging impunity”.

“As far as the relationship between the EFCC and the judiciary is concerned, the Executive Chairman, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa has been an apostle of rule of law, due process, and close collaboration between the two institutions in justice administration.

“As an investigator, and the only Chief Executive of a law enforcement agency who regularly goes to court, the Executive Chairman will not tolerate impunity or disregard any lawful orders of the court.

“Abdulrasheed Bawa, in his capacity as Executive Chairman of the EFCC since March 5, 2022, did not disregard any order of court.

“For the benefit of the public, the said order of the FCT High Court was given on November 21, 2018, three years before Abdulrasheed became EFCC Chairman”, it stated.

A ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja had found Bawa guilty of contempt by violating an earlier order of the court.

Giving the ruling, Justice Chizoba Oji convicted and jailed Bawa in a ruling on an application by a former Director of Operations at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Rufus Ojuawo.

Ojuawo in his application requested that Bawa be jailed for EFCC's disobedience of a court order instructing the commission to release a Range Rover car and N40 million seized from him while he was facing trial.

Speaking on Tuesday, EFCC vowed to appeal the ruling.