2023: EFCC Chairman, Bawa denies telling INEC not to sell forms

The newly appointed Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa has denied reports making the rounds that he advised the Indepwndent Natilnal Electoral Commission (INEC) not to sell nomination forms to anyone willing to contest political office in 2023.

Bawa described the report as false, saying that he has never met with the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu since he took over.

A statement by EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, on Friday, said Bawa hasn’t mention anything closely or remotely to advising INEC Chairman, maintaining that, it is not within the purview of EFCC to determine who should contest elections.

The statement reads:
“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a report currently circulating in the social media, in which the Executive Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, is quoted as having advised the Independent National Electoral Commission, not to sell forms to any aspirant who has a file with the agency, pursuant to the 2023 general election.

“The Commission wishes to state that the report is false as the Executive Chairman has neither met with INEC officials nor made any pronouncement remotely related to election since he was appointed.

“All he has said, in his two public outings so far, pertain to issues concerning his vision for the EFCC and the outlook for the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

“Qualification for elective political offices in Nigeria are clearly stated in the 1999 Constitution and relevant sections of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended ).

“It is not the place of the EFCC chairman to determine who runs for an office or otherwise.
“Members of the public are therefore enjoined to consider this report as another classic case of fake news and discountenace it.”