DSS Releases Former EFCC Chairman, After 134 Days in Detention

A former chairman of the economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC), Abdurasheed Bawa, has regained his freedom after spending 134 days in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).

The agency confirmed his release in a statement issued late on Wednesday. He had since been reunited with his family

Bawa was arrested by DSS last June, shortly after he was placed on suspicion by president bola Tinubu. Since then he had been in DSS custody.

Last week, the President announced Ola Olukoyede as the new EFCC chairman, whose appointment had been confirmed by the senate.

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Prior to Bawa’s arrest, a statement signed by the Director of Information in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Willie Bassey, said Bawa’s suspension followed weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.

Bassey stated that Bawa has been directed to immediately handover the affairs of his office to the Director, Operations, in the commission, who will oversee the affairs of the office of the chairman of the commission, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The statement partly reads, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR, has approved the indefinite suspension from office of Mr. AbdulRasheed Bawa, CON,  as the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office. 

“This follows weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.”