A few days ago, the Buhari administration rose to the mantle to the uncharacteristic  pronouncement of naming the new head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] Abdukrasheed Bawa to the replace the disgracefully sacked former head of the EFCC Ibrahim Magu. The announcement was generally received with applause and relief. The youthful age of Abdulrasheed Bawa from hope to the youthful population of Nigeria.

247ureports congratulates the arrival of a youthful, educated and bright fellow to the realm of affairs at the foremost anti-graft agency in Nigeria. At the age of 40years, he is the youngest person to have been tagged to serve as the Chairman of the anti-graft agency.

Abdulrasheed Bawa’s curriculum vital is reported to be rich and impressive. Most importantly, he is not a policeman – or a product of the Nigerian Police Force [NPF]. He is the product of the EFCC. He was trained at the training center of the EFCC in Jabi, Abuja. He specialized in special investigations. And, that will be a first for the EFCC – to have a specialist lead the Commission.

He has got his work cut out for him.

The EFCC, in its present condition, is too filthy to function as a real anti-graft agency to be taken seriously. It is over filled with blinding corruption. Over the years, the place has become a cesspool of men and women without integrity.

For real work to begin at the new EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa must cleanse the Commission and restart the agency afresh. A complete overhaul. It is highly necessary. It is no news that the previous heads of the Commission had successfully normalized corrupt activities at the EFCC to the point virtually all the consultants and people of influence in and around the EFCC have become too contaminated with corruption to be allowed to continue interaction with the new EFCC.

The EFCC, as it is presently constituted, has become a clearing house where financial crime offenders are freed – after a ‘shakedown’ – usually coordinated by the former employees of the Commission and/or consultants who would intercept the ongoing investigations – and end up killing the investigation to a dead end conclusion.

There have been many instances were clear cut corruption investigation were cut short abruptly by the agents of the EFCC. One of such instance is the investigation of the former TETFUND boss and his activities at the Gombe State University. The agents and consultants at the EFCC swallowed the investigation and killed the outcome. The culprits, as a result, are walking around freely enjoying the spoils of their criminalty.

Abdulrasheed Bawa must be careful with this EFCC.