How Powerful AGF, Abubakar Malami Pressured and Lobbied President Buhari to Appoint his Cousin, Abdulrasheed Bawa as EFCC Chairman  

In 2015, when Abubakar Malami (SAN) was appointed as the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister for Justices, he was the youngest in the ministerial cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari. He was highly cerebral, blessed with oratory prowess and widely vast in the law profession. In the process of discharging his duties, he earned a position as a strong member of the ‘President’s Kitchen Cabinet’. He was well grounded; he was not a push over in the administration, hence, his popularity spread like wild fire as he was part of those taking crucial decisions in the administration.

Muhammadu Buhari

Sources averred that: he has a filial relationship with the President. He is one of the Ministers who often see the president any time he wishes and he gets the rapt attention of Mr. President. With the power and influence he wielded as minister, he petitioned his nightmare; Mr Ibrahim Magu, former embattled acting chairman of anti-graft agency; The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Malami in his petition to the President, alleged Magu of diversions of loots and properties forfeited by looters. With his petition, the President ordered the immediate probing of the allegations. Ibrahim Magu was told to step aside as the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, to allow a panel of enquiry probe into the allegations. Sources said; Malami and Magu are like cat and rat. They are like the proverbial Light and Darkness that never see eye to eye. They have been at each-others jugular. They have both be in a battle of supremacy. “Magu’s current predicament was orchestrated by Malami who has been looking for an avenue to deal with him. Magu refused to dance to his tunes. On several occasions, Malami has pleaded and lobbied Magu to leave some high profile case but Magu refused and probed those high profile people. Some of them even got jail terms. This did not sit well with Malami who has promised himself to sink Magu’s career and mess him up.”

Adulrasheed Bawa

In a bid to take total control of the anti-graft agency by proxy, Malami went ahead to immediately push his cousin; Abdulrasheed Bawa, to takeover form Magu as Chairman of EFCC. Sources said; the President didn’t approve it at first but Malami used his influence to get the President’s approval as Bawa was announced the Chairman of the EFCC. “ Bawa has been working with the EFCC. The only way Malami can penetrate the EFCC is by pushing for the appointment of his cousin so he can have access to high profile case files and also lobby for his close ally’s currently facing one charges or the other with the EFCC.”

Inside sources in the EFCC confirmed that: Immediately Bawa was announced as the interim head, to be approved by the Senate, He immediately ordered the redeployment of Magu’s men in key position to other offices so as to enable him position his men and loyalist. “His first assignment was to redeploy all those he feels are loyal to Magu and those he sees as a threat. He redeployed them, from their key offices, some even redeployed outside the FCT. When this happened, we knew the game he was trying to play.”

Currently, Bawa’s appointment is still facing stiff opposition over his alleged case of corruption. The senate was said to have also faulted the appointment of the 40 year old chap and has also refused to confirm him despite the pressure from the Presidency to confirm him by all means. Sources said; “Some members of the Executive are also in talk with the leadership of the Senate to make him bow and go without proper screening so as to avert questioning of his alleged corruption case. The Senate is hell bent on resisting all pressure by following due process in his confirmation as the head of the Anti-corruption agency.