Abdurashid Bawa, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was on Wednesday night released after his arrest in June.
Bawa was released from the DSS national headquarters in Abuja.
It would be recalled that Bawa was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on June 14, 2023, following his suspension over alleged abuse of office as EFCC chairman.
Since his arrest and detention, the secret police have not filed any public charges against him or revealed the nature of his crimes.
The press secretary of DSS Dr. Peter Afunanya and Dele Oywale of the EFCC could not immediately verify Bawa’s release as of Wednesday night.
According to a statement signed by Willie Bassey, the Director of Information in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) before his arrest, Bawa’s suspension follows serious allegations of abuse of office leveled against him.
Bassey said Bawa has been instructed to immediately hand over the work of his office to the Commission’s Director of Operations, who will oversee the work of the Commission’s Chairman’s Office until the investigation is completed.
The statement partly read: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the indefinite suspension from office of Mr. AbdulRasheed Bawa, CON, as the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office.
“This follows weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.”
Bawa was succeeded by Umar Mohammed Abba during his four-month detention with the DSS before the appointment of Olanipekun Olukoyede as the Executive Chairman of the anti-graft agency.
