President Bola Tinubu has taken action by suspending AbdulRasheed Bawa, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in order to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of misconduct during his tenure. Various stakeholders involved in the fight against corruption have made serious accusations against Bawa, prompting this decision.
As a result of the suspension, Bawa has been instructed to hand over the responsibilities of his office to Mohammed Umar Abba, the agency’s Director of Operations. Abba will assume the role of overseeing the affairs of the EFCC Chairman during this period.
To familiarize yourself with the acting EFCC chairman, here are six key details:
- Mohammed Umar Abba was born on June 22, 1965, in Tudunwada Local Government Area of Kano State.
- Abba obtained his first degree from Bayero University in Kano. Following that, he completed a one-year national service at the former Anambra State Police Command and subsequently joined the Nigeria Police Force. He later attended the Nigeria Police Academy in Kaduna State and was commissioned in 1992.
- In January 2016, CP Abba was seconded to the EFCC, where he assumed the position of heading the Counterterrorism and General Investigations (CTGI) Section at the Headquarters in Abuja.
- He was appointed as the Director of Operations of the Commission in 2017.
- Abba’s dedication and service earned him a promotion to the rank of Commissioner of Police in 2019.
- On July 9, 2020, Abba assumed the role of Acting Chairman of the EFCC when Ibrahim Magu, the former chairman, was suspended. This appointment was made due to Abba’s status as the most senior operational officer at that time.