The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced that it will be intensifying its efforts to pursue public officials suspected of engaging in corrupt practices after May 29. This was revealed by the Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, in a recent interview with Daily Trust on Friday.
Although Bawa did not provide specific details on the identities or number of public officials who would be targeted, he indicated that the commission is currently investigating at least two ministries for fraudulent conduct related to procurement processes.
According to Bawa, "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 in 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 with some civil servants, raised vouchers and pay. How can that happen if we have digitalised procurement processes?"
Bawa also addressed the recent calls for his sacking by some civil society organisations, saying "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!"
Despite opposition, Bawa noted that in recent months, the agency had put forth a greater effort than ever before to standardize its operational activities, and the EFCC will persist in carrying out its beneficial initiatives.
He further stated, "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."