One Year To End Of Tenure, Buhari Inaugurates EFCC Board

By Uche Mbah

One year to the end of his tenure, President Buhari has inaugurated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Board.

Buhari had dissolved the Board in 2016 after he was sworn-in as President in his first term, making the Commission to operate for six years without a Board.

The new Board is led by Abdulrasheed Bawa.

The Board was inaugurated Thursday in Abuja, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Boss Mustapha.

The Presidency had submitted the names of members to the Senate, which on the 5th October, 2021,  confirmed the nominations.

While inaugurating the Board, the SGF enjoined the members to put in their best  “to combat financial and economic crimes in the country.”

“Let me reiterate the fact that Governing Boards are creations of the enabling statutes of the various institutions, with the main responsibility for giving policy direction to Management, in order to contribute towards the developmental goals of Government”, he said.

“This presupposes that the Management should be allowed to execute its day-to-day activities without undue interference by the Boards.

“I therefore, expect that all hands will be on deck to generate robust policy initiatives that will help this administration achieve its fight against corruption and revamp the economy.

“Similarly, in carrying out your responsibility as Board Members, you must also eschew corruption totally as Government will not hesitate to sanction all infractions”.

The Executive Chairman of the board is AbdulRasheed Bawa, Mr George Abang Ekpungu will serve as Secretary.

Members are Luqman Muhammad, Anumba Adaeze, Alh. Kola Raheem Adesina and Alh. Yahaya Muhammad.

Representating various institutions are  Haruna Nuhu Koko – of the Department of State Services, Reginald Chukwudi Karawusa of the Security and Exchange Commission, Pius Agboola of the National Insurance Commission, Salisu Abdu of the Nigeria Communication Commission and Nwakaego Celine Nwajei of the Nigerian Postal Service.

Others are Justine B. Nidiya of the Corporate Affairs Commission, U.G Mohammed of the Nigeria Custom Service, Muhammed Aminu Muhammed of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Umar Maman Sanda of the Nigeria Police Force, Emmanuel Andrew Naman – of the National Intelligence Agency, Ibrahim Abdul of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Gabriel Christopher of gg Federal Ministry of Finance, Adamu Shaibu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jeremiah Abue of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Galadima Yusufari Gana – of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation and a representative of the Ministry of Justice.