Born in Kebbi State some 40 years ago, Abdulrasheed Bawa, a Deputy Chief Detective Superindent (DCDS), is a trained Economic and Financial Crimes investigator with vast experience in the investigation and prosecution of Advance Fee Fraud, Official Corruption, Bank Fraud, Money Laundering and other Economic and Financial Crimes related offences.
The new EFFC boss 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), the 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 as well as the EFCC Academy and United Kingdom’s Global Training Consulting.
Bawa was also part of the pioneer EFCC Cadet Officers; course one 2005, having successfully investigated and testified in 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.
As part of his educational advancement and professional exploits, Bawa attained the following: Forensic Auditing and Accounting -May, 2008
Global Training Consulting, London United Kingdom, Financial Analysis and domestic Cooperation Training Phase 1- February 2008
The World Bank and EFCC Training and Research Institute (TRI) Abuja, Procurement Fraud, Advance Fee Fraud and Forgery-January, 2008, EFCC Training and Research Institute (TRI) Lagos.
Others are :
• Interrogation and Interview – September 2007
United State Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Training of Trainers’ – May, 2007
The British Council, DFID and EFCC
• Training Needs Assessment- March, 2007
The British Council, DFID and EFCC
• Financial Crimes Training-March, 2007
KPMG Professional Services
• Forensic Investigation-February, 2007
KPMG Professional Services
• Basic Analysis and Critical Thinking-June, 2006
United States Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
• Advance Intelligence Course-March, 2006
Team star Consulting Services
• Citizenship & Leadership Training-June, 2005
Citizenship and Leadership Training Center
Sea School Apapa, Lagos.
• Basic Law Enforcement Training- February-August, 2005
Nigerian Police College Ikeja, Lagos
PEACE Technique Interviewing Model, 2020
RabloWoods, Lagos
Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)-September, 2017
Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, United States of America,
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)-July, 2017, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners,
United States of America, CFE Exam Review Course-July, 2017,
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners,
United States of America, Oil Terminal Operations Awareness-March, 2015 and Alexander Brookes Training, Abuja, Strenghtening the Capacity of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Oil and Gas Investigations-August, 2014, amongst others.
Seminars and workshops attended 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
NCAC Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Assets Recovery, Vienna, Austria-August, 2017
• 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
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Member, Nigerian Economic Society, Associate, the Economic Institute, Certified, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE),Certified, Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (ACAMS)
Bawa has an intimidating profile as he is armed with a Bachelor of Laws(LLB): University of London- (In view), Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy: Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto-2012, Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics (Second Class Honours, upper credit): Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto-2001, Certificate in Micro Computer Operations and Management, University of Lagos-1997, Senior Secondary School Certificate: Government Secondary School, Owerri-1997, Primary School Certificate: Model Primary School Birnin-Kebbi Road, Sokoto– 1991.
Bawa, who was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief Detective Superindent (DCDS) in 2016, also attained the following ranks:
Principal Detective Superintendent (PDS)-2013, Senior Detective Superintendent (SDS)-2010, Deputy Detective Superintendent (DDS)-2007, Assistant Detective Superintendent (ADS)-2004.
In the course of his career in the EFCC, Bawa, until his appointment as the commission’s boss, was the Zonal Head, Lagos Zonal Office, (August, 2020-Date), Head, Capacity Development Division, EFCC Academy, Abuja, (December, 2019-August,2020), Zonal Head, Port Harcourt Zonal Office (Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia States), (January, 2019-December,2019), Zonal Head, Ibadan Zonal Office
(Oyo, Osun,Ekiti, Ondo and Kwara States) June, 2018-January,2019, Head, Counter Terrorism and General Investigation/Pension Unit, Lagos Zonal Office , March, 2017-May, 2018, Head, Investigation of Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and Associates, (October, 2015-Date).
Others are Course Officer, Intermediate Cadet Officer’s Course III, EFCC Academy, October, 2016-February, 2017, Head, Economic Governance Team 11,Abuja Zonal Office, March, 2016-October, 2016 2i/c, Extrative Industry Fraud Section,Abuja Zonal Office, March, 2014-March, 2016, 2i/c Special Team on Petroleum Subsidy, Abuja Zonal Office, January,2012-March, 2014, Member, Economic Governance, South-West Zone,Abuja Zonal Office, November, 2008-December, 2011, Head, Advance Fee Fraud Section Team L,(The First EFCC Regular Detective to be appointed a Team Head), Lagos Zonal Office, May, 2008-November, 2008, Member, Advance Fee Fraud Section Team H,Lagos Zonal Office, October, 2006-May, 2008, Work Attachement to various Operation sections,Lagos Zonal Office, August, 2005-September, 2006.
Notable cases Bawa had handled include Supervising the biggest operations zonal office of the EFCC in Lagos having 604 officers and men and securing 227 convictions despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Supervising the investigation of all cases in Port Harcourt Zonal office in which an unprecedented 215 convictions were secured in eleven months and securing Final Forfeiture of hundreds of properties to the Federal Government, Supervising the investigation of all cases in the Ibadan Zonal office in which 113 were concluded and 54 are charged to court within six months.
Other high profile cases are Diezani Allison-Madueke-2015-Date: Recovered Millions of Dollars worth of properties in Nigeria, U.K., U.S.A, and U.A.E including 92 properties in Nigeria, Atlantic Energy Group-2014-2015: Recovered Millions of Dollars worth of properties in Nigeria, UK, USA, Switzerland, UAE and Canada, Crude Oil Swaps and OPA-2014-2015: Recovered Billions of Naira,Petroluem Subsidy Fraud-2012-2015: Idenfied Fraud of about N70Billion, Recovered Billions of Naira and Prosecuted several companies, Former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, “Operation Cyber Storm One”, across Nigeria in which over 60 Suspected Advance Fee Fraudsters and Cyber Crime Perpetrators are on prosecution- 2008 and aslo participated in several other Periodic Raid on Notorious (419) Cyber-cafés.
His ad hoc assignments include but not limited to the following: Member, Committee on Authorship of Handbook of Best Practices and Standard Operating Procedures for investigations and prosecutions of Economic and Financial Crimes-2017, Member, Committee on Amendment of EFCC (Establishment) Act-2014, Secretary, Presidential Investigation Commitee on Crude Oil Theft-2014, Chairman, Operations Department Sub-Committee on production of Standard Operational Procedure-2014-2015, Secretary, Commitee on modification of EFCC Declaration of Assets Form-2012, Member, Special Team on Investigation of Tax evasion and other related matter (Airlines and Hotel Operators in which Billions of Naira were recovered)-2009-2010, Member, Training Team of EFCC Cadet Officers’ course 4 -2010, Member, Training Team of EFCC Intermediate Cadet Officers’ Course II -2009-2010, Member, Training Team of EFCC Cadet Officers’ Course IV -2009-2010, Member, Training Team of EFCC Cadet Officers’ Course II -2006.
Bawa was also member at various times Training Team of EFCC Intermediate Cadet Officers’ Course I -2006, Pioneer EFCC Money Transfer liaising officer with Western Union Money Transfer and Money Gram international (2006-2008), Lecturer at various sensitization workshop on the “EFCC as an organization” to banks and military organizations (2007-2008).
From August 2002 to September 2003, thenew EFCC boss served as Customer Care Officer at African International Bank Plc, Tafawa Balewa Square Branch, Lagos, for his National youth service (NYSC).
AWARDS/COMMENDATIONS
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Merit Award – 2020
In recognition of his dedication and supervision of prosecution activities of the Lagos zonal office and securing convictions despite the Covid-19 pandemic and End Sars protest, which affected Lagos State the most.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Merit Award – 2020
In recognition of his dedication and supervision of investigation activities of the Lagos zonal office and making recoveries despite the Covid-19 pandemic and EndSARs protest, which affected Lagos State the most.
US Federal Bureau of Investigation (Criminal Investigative Division) Appreciation – 2019
In recognition of his support and contribution in FBI’s Operation rewired, which resulted in nearly 209 arrests worldwide.
US Federal Bureau of Investigation (U.S. Department of Justice) Recognition Award – 2019
For facilitating the collaboration between EFCC and the FBI, which resulted in a mutual fight against Economic and Financial Crimes on an international scale.
10 Years of Service Award – 2014 in recognition of his continued commitment and contributions to the Anti-Corruption efforts at the inaugural EFCC award ceremony.
Commendable recognition-2010, for dedication, commitment to duty, professionalism and zeal exhibited during senior cadet course V and Intermediate cadet cadets course II.
Bawa’s hobbies include watching football, tennis, reading, current affairs and international politics.
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