The new acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has been promoted to the rank of Chief Detective
Superintendent ahead of his Senate screening.
The move comes amid a lawsuit challenging Bawa’s
qualification for the job.
Section 2 of the EFCC Act states that a person who will be
appointed as chairman of the commission must have at least 15 years experience
and must be the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Police or its equivalent.
Bawa, who was appointed by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on February 16, 2021, was on Grade Level 13 and a Deputy Chief Detective Superintendent.
A lawyer, Osuagwu Ugochukwu, subsequently filed a suit
before a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop the Senate confirmation of
Bawa.
However, it was learnt that on Friday, Bawa and his course
mates were given letters of promotion with immediate effect.
The Punch quoting a top source in the EFCC disclosed that with the new
promotion, Bawa is now qualified to take on the new job.
The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said Bawa and
his mates who are part of the pioneer Course 1 of the EFCC Cadet Officers were
supposed to have been promoted over a year ago but their promotions were being
delayed by the police-led leadership of the commission.
He said, “Bawa and his course mates have been promoted to
Level 14. Hopefully, this will put to rest the controversy surrounding his
eligibility for the role of EFCC chairman. I agree that the promotion should
have been effected before his appointment was announced as this would have
prevented unnecessary controversies.
“The truth is that he has been overdue for promotion.”
Meanwhile, it was learnt on Saturday that the Presidency was
seeking to appoint a new secretary of the commission to replace Mr Ola
Olukoyede who is still on suspension.
Our correspondent was informed that a member of the Justice
Ayo Salami-led panel was one of the persons being considered for the
appointment of secretary of the commission which is a key appointment.
Among other powers, the EFCC secretary is in charge of the
administration of the commission. He is also in charge of auctioning recovered
assets.
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