I never sold seized assets – New EFCC boss

The Chairmanship nominee of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has dismissed reports that he sold assets that were forfeited to the federal government while serving as zonal head of the agency’s Port Harcourt office.

Speaking at his confirmation hearing at the Senate plenary on Wednesday, Bawa said all the forfeited assets were sold by the headquarters of the agency.

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He said: “I, as zonal head, never sold any asset in Port Harcourt that was forfeited to the Federal Government.”

Bawa added that before he was posted to Port Harcourt, the zonal office only secured 33 convictions.

He, however, said as a result of the reform the office carried out under his leadership, 216 convictions were secured.

“We never sold anything. The headquarters did that. We don’t know the buyer and how much the forfeited assets were sold,” he said.

Bawa noted that if he had been involved in the sales of those assets, he would have been punished by the EFCC and would not have been nominated as the chairman of the agency.

Looted assets abroad

Bawa vowed to repatriate all looted assets stashed in foreign countries.

He said he was aware of the enormity of the tasks as head of the anti-graft agency and pledged to discharge them with all sense of responsibility.

“My priority, if confirmed by the Senate, will be to repatriate all our stolen assets for the betterment of all Nigerians,” he said.

Bawa said his appointment had renewed the hope of many young Nigerians in the country and vowed to give them good representation so that more youths will get the opportunities to serve the country in different capacities.