EFCC Clears Air On Bawa’s Visit To Lagos CJ

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has cleared the air on the reported controversy surrounding the visit of its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa to the Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Kazeem Alogba.

The anti-graft commission’s boss is the prosecution witness in a court case before the Lagos Chief Judge.

He reportedly visited the Lagos Chief Judge after a court session.

The Commission in a statement issued by Wilson Uwajaren says the visit was a “routine courtesy call” and frowns at what it labeled ” obvious design to draw a non-existent nexus between the visit and the ongoing case where Bawa has been in the witness box for over 5 years.”

“There was nothing secret or clandestine about the visit which was undertaken by Bawa in his capacity as Executive Chairman, EFCC; and not as a prosecution witness in an ongoing criminal trial before a judge of the Lagos High Court.” the statement by Uwajaren further explained.

And added “it is not strange for heads of anti-corruption agencies to visit heads of judiciary to solicit for synergy. Lagos State Judiciary, in particular, is critical to EFCC as the bulk of the Commission’s cases are domiciled in the jurisdiction. Thus, the visit by the EFCC Chairman to the Chief Judge of the state was a routine courtesy call which should not be exploited by mischief makers to fan the embers of disaffection between the Commission and members of the Bench.”