The State Security Service (SSS) has officially confirmed the release of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa. Peter Afunanya, the Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications at the SSS, announced Mr. Bawa’s release in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. Bawa was released on Wednesday night, but no details of the arrangement were provided. This release comes after Mr. Bawa had been in DSS detention since June 14 following his suspension by the Federal Government.
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Mr. Bawa’s release occurred three days after an editorial in PREMIUM TIMES called for his release and that of Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, citing concerns over the government’s breach of constitutional and legal principles. While the editorial acknowledges concerns about Mr. Emefiele’s competence in handling monetary policy, it emphasizes the need for due process and legality in his removal, as well as in Mr. Bawa’s case.
The editorial criticizes the government’s disregard for the rule of law, citing the absence of a legal process in Mr. Emefiele’s suspension, his subsequent arrest, and the handling of Mr. Bawa’s detention. It highlights that democracy is based on constitutionalism and the rule of law, and calls for the government to respect these principles. The editorial also urges the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to address the irregularities in Mr. Bawa’s case and uphold the rule of law.
It points out that detaining someone beyond legal limits without public disclosure of the charges is a violation of the constitution and undermines legal rights. The editorial also questions the circumstances of Mr. Bawa’s purported resignation and the Senate’s confirmation of his successor, Olanipekun Olukoyede, in possible breach of the EFCC Act. The editorial concludes by calling on the government to address the allegations against Mr. Bawa transparently, emphasizing the importance of the rule of law in a democracy.
