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Why Bawa didn’t obey committal order -EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday justified the refusal of its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to present himself and be committed to Kuje prison, as ordered by a court in Kogi State.

Explaining that Bawa did not obey the court order because the commission has appealed the ruling, the Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, said the EFCC boss was denied fair hearing and as a law abiding institution, the EFCC has approached the Appeal Court, for a stay of execution.

He however failed to mention whether the stay of execution had been granted or not, as reporters tried to find out whether the appeal stopped the arrest of Bawa by the Inspector-General of Police.

The spokesman of the anti-graft body also alleged that the protests by over 100 anti-corruption Civil Society Organisations (CSO), which entered it’s fourth day on Tuesday, is being sponsored against the EFCC chairman to discredit his person.

He said: “The group, through press conferences and staged street protests, have been calling for the sack of the EFCC Chairman for alleged disobedience of court orders. They claim they are motivated by the need to strengthen the fight against corruption.

“Contrary to these claims, the EFCC wishes to alert the public that this group have no interest in the fight against Corruption and their allusion to disobedience of court orders by the EFCC chairman is an alibi to manipulate facts around judicial pronouncements and processes to pitch the public against the Commission,” he said.

He alleged that the CSOs are being sponsored by people under investigation by the Commission and had been mobilised and mandated by their paymaster to embarrass the EFCC chairman through choreographed street protests across the country, until he is removed from office.

Uwajaren appealed to the public to disregard the campaign by this group as they do not represent the genuine interest of millions of Nigerians who are desirous of seeing progress in the fight against Corruption.

“It is also important to reassure Nigerians and all stakeholders that the Commission has never, and will not take any steps to undermine the judiciary. As a law abiding institution, EFCC has conducted all its activities within the ambit of the law. Where judicial decisions were made against it, it has never resorted to self-help but availed itself of remedies under the law as it did in the instant case of committal orders of court,” the EFCC stated.

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Musawa Seeks Broader Significance for June 12

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Joel Ajayi 


The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., says June 12 must be remembered as a sacrifice that gave Nigerians democracy, beyond its status as a public holiday.


In a statement signed on Saturday by the Senior Assistant Media & Publicity to the Honourable Minister,Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze Ph.D in Abuja.

Musawa stated this at the national premiere of “MKO”, a film on Chief Moshood Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.


She said 33 years after June 12, 1993, many young Nigerians know it only as a holiday, but the film turns it back into memory.


“For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday. This film tells them that our democracy did not arrive by chance. It was fought for. It was defended. It was paid for. This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” the Minister said.


Musawa hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Host, for his participation in the June 12 struggle and paying the price in exile, adding that Nigeria’s creative industry will keep telling the story of its democracy with courage.


“Through film and the creative economy, Nigeria will preserve its history. A nation that forgets its past loses its way to the future. Nigeria has a story and our story deserves to be told,” she said.


Earlier, the director of the investigative documentary, Ose Oyamendan, said the film was in honour and memory of heroes who fought for Nigeria’s democracy.


“There was Hope ’93 and now there is Renewed Hope. There was a man who sacrificed his life so we may have democracy and there is a man who almost lost his life fighting for democracy who is now helping build a lasting democracy.


“There was a great man called Bashorun MKO Abiola and there is now another great man called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Democrats. Nationalists. Nation builders. Leaders of men and women. We must never forget our story. We must always honour and remember our heroes,” Oyamendan said.


Top government officials including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the wife of the President Senator Oluremi Tinubu;  Senate President  Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chief of Staff to the President Rt. Femi Gbajabiamila, state Governors, members of the National Assembly, Ministers and other distinguished dignitaries attended the premiere.

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