pledge to steer the organization towards proactive and intelligence-led
investigation. He said he would create a full-fledged directorate of
intelligence that would spearhead intelligence gathering, which will
ensure proactive response in the fight against corruption.
According to him, “We are going to digitalize our processes, and we are
going to create a new full-pledged directorate of intelligence to enable
us gather intelligence so that we will be proactive in our fight against
economic and financial crimes; and by so doing, we will also provide the
government with necessary quality advice that will lead to good
governance”.
Reiterating his remarks before the Senate at his confirmation hearing,
the new EFCC boss promised a paradigm shift in the agency’s approach to
anti-graft war, from fighting corrupt persons to fighting corruption.
“There is difference between fighting corruption and fighting corrupt
people; and going forward, we are going to be proactive in our approach
in the fight against economic and financial crimes,” he said.
He assured stakeholders of continued partnership. “For our strategic
partners across the shores of this country, we will continue to work
together with you. We will continue to share intelligence, to see that
the stolen wealth of this country is returned for the betterment of us
all. But all of these, we will be doing it the way the EFCC is known to
be doing its things. The provision of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, extent laws of the country have always been and
will always be our guide,” he said.
The chairman also pledge to prioritize staff welfare, stressing that he
is going to work on it, and also to ask the government for necessary
support. “We know the problems and God willing, we are going to solve
these problems,” he assured.
Earlier in his handing over remarks, the out-going Acting Chairman of
the Commission, Mohammed Umar Abba congratulated Bawa for a
well-deserved appointment and wished him well in his new assignment.
“I am particularly delighted to be handing over the affairs of the
Commission to Bawa. He is an officer with whom I have enjoyed close
working relationship and who contributed immensely to our collective
efforts in the war against Economic and Financial crimes. I have no
doubt that he will do well and enjoin all staff to accord him the same
support that I have received over the last seven months, “he said.
Umar, who also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for giving him the
opportunity to lead the Commission, albeit in acting capacity, disclosed
that under his watch, the Commission prosecuted 804 cases and obtained a
total of 583 convictions. He added that substantial recovery running
into billions of Naira was made, while various assets were equally
forfeited through interim or final Order of Court.
