EFCC vows to hunt down ‘corrupt’ public officials from May 29

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announce plans to pursue corrupt departing public officials after May 29.

The EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, in a recent interview with Daily Trust on Friday, made this known in his statement.

While he did not disclose the identities or number of public officials who would be subjected to the law, Bawa indicated that the commission is currently investigating at least two ministries for fraudulent conduct related to procurement processes.

“Currently, we’re investigating two ministries where double payments were made. In one of the ministries, the double payments, cumulatively, were about 20 contracts of over N4bn.

“These were contracts that were done way back 2018, and then some group of people, so bold, came up with the same narration.

“They moved the documents from the file, forged them, and then of course in conspiracy of some civil servants, raised vouchers and pay. How can that happen if we have digitalised procurement processes?” Bawa queried.

He also reacted to calls for his sacking by some civil society organisations.

Bawa said, “It is on record that I am the first sitting EFCC chairman to go to court and testify, not once, not twice or three times. We now have some group of people that were paid, we know the people that are paying them, coming up with all sorts of gang-ups.

“We are following due process and the rule of law. The court had made a pronouncement, we have appealed that, and there is a stay of execution, what do you expect? We move on!”

He observed that in recent months, the agency had put forth a greater effort than ever before to standardize the operational activities of the EFCC, stating that despite opposition, the EFCC would persist in carrying out its beneficial initiatives.

“And God willing, come May and June, we are going to make some huge arrests and commence huge prosecutions of people.

“And for those people that are not leaving in May, whenever they are leaving, we will be waiting for them to ensure that justice is done,” he added.