Categories: News

EFCC: You Should Be Optimistic – Malami Tackles Sagay Over Comments On Bawa

Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), says Nigerians are happy with the appointment of Abdulrasheed Bawa as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Malami said this in reaction to comments credited to Itse Sagay, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC).

Sagay had said Malami was a politician and woud not give the new EFCC boss a free reign to carry out his duties and responsibilities.

There are reports that Bawa is Malami Cousin and he (Malami) played a crucial role in Bawa’s appointment, which many said was done to give him unfettered access to operations of the anti-graft agency, an action that was profoundly inhibited by the former chairman of the agency, Ibrahim Magu.

Bawa was confirmed by the senate on Wednesday despite Irrefutable allegations of thefts, malfeasance and corruption levelled against him.

But in a statement on Monday, asked Sagay to allow Bawa discharge his duties.

In a statement on Thursday, Umar Gwandu, media aide to Malami, quoted the minister to have said the utterances of Sagay are mere conjectures spurred by sentiment.

He described the comments made by Sagay as “the highest of confusion”.

The AGF asked why the PACAC chairman would show “great optimism” with the appointment of Bawa and also be pessimistic at the same time.

“There was nothing to worry about the new leadership of the EFCC which many Nigerians hail, unless the old man has skeletons in his cupboard,” the minister said.

“We advise the old man not to start having a hallucinated, mixed-up and confused vision of a prognostic future envisaged by his sentiments.

“Let Sagay make less noise but allow the young man discharge his duties with vigour and vibrancy.

“Nigerians will be happy if the old man would come out publicly to explain reasons why he is jittery over the development, which has been praised and commended by Nigerians.”