This paper gathered that Malami knew the young Abdulrasheed Bawa who is also an indigene of Kebbi state about two decades ago. Bawa our source reveal has maintained his relationship with Malami since he (Malami) was the personal lawyer to incumbent President Buhari.
It would be recalled that it was Malami’s report that indicted CP Ibrahim Magu and was subsequently arrested and removed from office.
Even though the President has not yet acted on the Justice Ayo Salami Report on Magu because of the sensitivity of the allegations and the people that would be involved, with the influence of AGF Malami and even if Magu will eventually be protected from prosecution because of the fear of causing collateral damage and credibility crisis to the administration, President Buhari has made up his mind that with the evidences against Magu and the people that protected him, he (Magu) will not be returned as the EFCC boss.
What the administration is doing silently for Magu is to buy enough time and to give Magu a soft landing since it has become very clear that subjecting Magu to any kind of prosecution will expose not only those that are very close to the President but even some members of his immediate family as the former EFCC boss is in possession of so many things that will indict the first family and the likes of Malami too.
It was AGF Malami that convinced President Buhari to break the tradition of appointing the EFCC boss from within the police personnel with the hope that rampant instances of corruption and abuse of office under police officers will be checked.
While Malami had succeeded in convincing President Buhari to pick from the civilian officers of the EFCC, the shrewd AGF was silently working for the emergence of another Kebbi man that was believed to be very loyal to him, Abdulrasheed Bawa to emerge as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC. Malami reportedly got Buhari’s clearance to appoint one of his own without much stress.
With the home work and contacts Malami has done, it is expected that the approval of Abdulrasheed Bawa by the Senate will be a formality and that it will be done with dispatch.
What remains to be seen is whether the administration will have the courage of prosecuting CP Magu and all those that were indicted by the Ayo Salami Panel.
Pundits are however in agreement that considering the people that will be involved that is not likely to happen at all under the Buhari Presidency.
WHO IS ABDULRASHEED BAWA?
Bawa hails from Jega Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Northern Nigeria. He is a trained EFCC investigator with vast experience in the investigation and prosecution of Advance Fee Fraud cases, official corruption, bank fraud, money laundering, and other economic crimes.
The 40-year-old has undergone several specialised trainings in different parts of the world. He is a Certified Fraud Exerminer (CFE), Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), and was also trained by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Financial Crime Enforcement Network (FINCEN), the World Bank, the United Nations Office of Drug and Crimes, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria State Security Services, the EFCC Academy and United Kingdom’s Global Training Consulting.
Furthermore, Bawa was part of the pioneer EFCC Cadet Officers; course one, 2005. He is credited with successfully investigating and testifying in the prosecution of several cases, leading to convictions and recovery of billions of naira and millions of US Dollars in cash and properties across the world.
Bawa holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics (Second Class Honours, upper credit) from Usmanu Danfodio University in Sokoto State, northwestern part of the country. In 2012, he obtained a Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy from the Usmanu Danfodio University. He is currently studying for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree at the University of London.
He has attended several conferences and seminars. They include ACAMS Global 24+ Virtual Conference (2020), ACFE Global Fraud Conference, Las Vegas, USA (June 2018), Global Forum on Assets Recovery (Gfar), Washington DC, USA (December 2017), and UNCAC Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Assets Recovery, Vienna, Austria (August 2017).
Others are UNCAC 8th Intersessional Meeting-Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Prevention, Vienna, Austria (August 2017), Nigerian Economic Society Annual Conference, Calabar, Nigeria (2009), EFCC Best Practices Manual Drafting Convocation (April 2017), EFCC Best Practices Manual Workshop (July 2017), EFCC Best Practices Manual Workshop (August 2017), Nigerian Economic Society Annual Conference Calabar, Nigeria (2009).
In 2004, Bawa became an Assistant Detective Superintendent (ADS) in the EFCC. He progressed to the rank of Deputy Detective Superintendent (DDS) in 2007. He rose to become a Senior Detective Superintendent (SDS) in 2010. In 2013, he became a Principal Detective Superintendent (PDS). His last promotion was to the rank of Deputy Chief Detective Superindent (DCDS) in 2016.
Bawa has overseen several notable cases in his time at the top anti-corruption agency. He supervised the biggest operations zonal office of the EFCC in Lagos, having 604 officers and securing 227 convictions.
He supervised the investigation of all cases in the Port Harcourt Zonal office in which an unprecedent 215 convictions were secured in eleven months. He also secured the final forfeiture of hundreds of properties to the Federal Government.
The new EFCC boss supervised the investigation of all cases in the Ibadan Zonal office in which 113 were concluded and 54 were charged to court within 6 months.
He was involved in the recovery of millions of dollars worth of properties belonging to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke. He was also involved in the fraud cases involving former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu. He equally participated in several other Periodic Raid on Notorious (419) Cyber cafés.
Bawa has received numerous awards and commendations in his time at the EFCC. He received the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Merit Award in 2020.
He earned the appreciation of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (Criminal Investigative Division) in 2019 after facilitating the collaboration between the EFCC and the FBI, which resulted in a mutual fight against Economic and Financial Crimes on an international scale.
In 2014, Bawa received the 10 Years of Service Award in recognition of his continued commitment and contributions to the Anti-Corruption efforts.
He belongs to professional organisations including Nigerian Economic Society (Member), the Economic Institute (Associate), Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (Certified), and Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (Certified).
Bawa enjoys watching Football &Tennis, Reading, Current Affairs, and International Politics.
