The Head of Transparency International in Nigeria, Auwal Rafsanjani, says the suspension of the EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, did not surprise the organization.
Rafsanjani told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the appointment of the head of the anti-graft agency has been political for some time.
He did not expect a new president to retain an EFCC chairman that was appointed by a predecessor.
”The suspension did not come to us by surprise, this is because of the way and manner the previous regimes or governments have always removed the EFCC leaders when they come into power,” Rafsanjani said.
”For this development, with regard to the removal of the EFCC chairman, we believe that already we knew that he was going to be removed because of so many political interests and changes that can happen.”
The TI head also noted that many “political interests” have issues with the suspended EFCC chairman.
He advised the government to look beyond politics in appointing Bawa’s successor.
The EFCC chair was suspended on Wednesday after he met with President Bola Tinubu at Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
A statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said he was removed as a result of “weighty allegations of abuse of office leveled against him.”
He was directed to the EFCC’s Director of Operations.
