Release suspended EFCC chair, Bawa immediately or prosecute him, SERAP tells Pres. Tinubu …threatens legal action over Bawa’s detention

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has threatened to take legal action against the President Bola Tinubu-led administration over the continued detention of the suspended Chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, by the Department of State Services (DSS).

This is as the detention of Bawa without prosecution has sparked public criticisms.

Persecondnews recalls that following his suspension by President Tinubu for alleged ‘abuse of office’, the embattled former EFCC boss has been in DSS detention for almost two months.

Reacting via its twitter handle on Tuesday, the rights organization said the government should immediately release him or prosecute him, adding that his prolonged detention amounts to a violation of his right to liberty as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.

“The Tinubu administration must immediately release the suspended chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, from arbitrary detention or charge him with a legally recognizable offence.

“We will see in court if the authorities continue to flagrantly violate his right to liberty,” SERAP wrote.

Persecondnews recalls that the DSS arrested Bawa on June 14, few hours after his suspension by Tinubu.

The Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, had in a statement announced Bawa’s suspension, citing “weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him” as the reason for the President’s decision.

Since his arrest, the DSS has been mum on the specific offences for which he was arrested, the level of investigation and whether charges would be filed against him in court.