Abuja, NIGERIA —Federal agents in Nigeria, the Department of State Services searched the Abuja home and office of the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, within the week because they believed additional classified information could be discovered, people familiar with the matter said.
It was learnt that the secret police, also during the week, invited Bawa’s close associates in the EFCC for questioning, over alleged mismanagement, misappropriation and diversion of proceeds of sold assets forfeited to the EFCC.
However, when contacted on Wednesday to speak on the development, the spokesperson for the DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, said, “No comments.”
Bawa, who is currently being held in the custody of the DSS “Yellow House,” Abuja, is being probed for alleged financial impropriety as EFCC helmsman.
President Bola Tinubu had on June 14 suspended Bawa as EFCC chairman indefinitely, following which the DSS picked him up.
A reliably source said that the search on his Gwarinpa home in Abuja was carried out on Saturday, in the presence of his wife and children.
An impeccable source, privy to the operation, noted that Bawa’s office was also searched on the same day by another set of DSS operatives who presented a search warrant.
“DSS operatives stormed the EFCC Headquarters in Jabi on Saturday to search the office of the suspended chairman. But they presented a search warrant. Another set of DSS operatives also searched Bawa’s home in Gwarinpa, and they met his wife and children in the house during the search.
“Bawa’s close associates at the office were also invited for questioning this week, and they’re being probed on allegations of mismanagement, misappropriation, and diversion of proceeds forfeited assets sold under Bawa’s watch,” the source said.
A government source, who also pleaded anonymity, however, said the DSS had yet to file charges against the embattled EFCC boss as investigation was still ongoing.
“The DSS is yet to charge him to court because they’re still carrying out their investigation to get enough evidence to help their case.”
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, did not respond to an inquiry by our correspondent on Wednesday over the development.
Meanwhile, the DSS had obtained an ex parte order to extend Bawa’s detention in their facility, while they continue with their investigation.
Speaking to one of our correspondents, a government source said the move by the DSS was to deter Bawa from filing lawsuits to challenge his detention.
Bawa refuses to give Statement
The embattled Chairman who is still in the DSS custody refused to write statements at the secret police’s facility, top officials said.
Bawa reportedly told investigators that the DSS had no right to detain him without charges, hence his refusal to write any statements in custody.
Bawa has been in detention along with Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, since they were suspended from their respective offices by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration over corruption allegations and abuse of office.
As at Wednesday, Bawa had refused to cooperate with DSS investigators, protesting against his detention without charges.
According to the source, “detained EFCC chairman has refused to write statements; he told DSS they have no right to detain him without charges.
“So far since his detention, he has vehemently refused to cooperate with DSS investigators.”
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