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Protest Day 7: Over 120 anti-corruption CSOs give IGP 7-day ultimatum to arrest, jail EFCC boss

Published

4 years ago

February 17, 2023

….round off first phase, call on Buhari to urgently sanitise Commission, preserve his integrity

Over 120 frontline Anti-corruption Civil Society Organisations, on Friday, held a massive town hall meeting, in Lagos, to round off their week-long protest against what they called “Politicisation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Disobedience of Court Orders and Infringement on Human Rights of Nigerians” under the leadership of Abdulrasheed Bawa.

The protesters, who began to have a large following on social and conventional media, since their first public protest last Friday, gave the Inspector-General of Police a seven-day ultimatum to effect the Court order that committed Bawa to prison for contempt, noting that the EFCC’s alleged desperate recruitment of “counter-CSOs” would not help the Commission.

According to them, though the first phase of the protest ended on Friday, the CSOs would jointly and individually petition relevant international agencies, demanding sanctions against Bawa until he becomes law abiding and serves his jail term.

Spokesperson for the Transparency and Accountability Group, Ayodeji Ologun, insisted that the EFCC boss could not appeal the contempt ruling without first obeying the order, saying the Nigerian authorities were dangerously toeing the path of anarchy with the incessant disobedience of court orders, especially by an agency set up to stamp out corruption.

He said the politicisation of the EFCC was evident in the slant of its operations, noting that while series of petitions were piled up unattended at the EFCC offices on monumental corruption across Nigeria, the Commission’s boss had allegedly demonstrated that his task was mainly political vendetta.

The activists kicked strongly against the EFCC’s statement that they were hired CSOs, saying those on the struggle had been at the forefront of the fight against corruption for years and were well known for their doggedness and patriotism.

“When Bawa was still learning to wear his pants, or hiding in his parents’ home, many of us here were already at the barricades fighting for democracy and the office he is enjoying today. Back then, nobody paid us to fight for justice. Whoever is saying we were paid to do this must be thoroughly examined. We are strictly activists, not political jobbers,” Director, Activists for Good Governance, Declan Ihehaire, said.

“We are saying President Buhari should sack Bawa and if he doesn’t sack him, we are sure that whoever is coming on board, come May 29, 2023, will listen to us and have Bawa sacked,” he added.

The CSOs accused the EFCC of greater corruption and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately put machineries in motion to sanitise the Commission so that the war against criminals and corrupt elements in Nigeria would make a meaning.

“Go to EFCC office today, there won’t be parking space. Most of them, who are police officers, drive different types of exotic cars that their colleagues who don’t work with EFCC cannot afford,” Spokesperson for the Coalition of Anti-corruption Organisations, Olufemi Lawson, said.

Reviewing the protests so far, he stated, “For one week, we have, as a coalition, embarked on a sustained agitation for the removal of Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The Coalition, comprising of over 120 active organisations, has been able to sustain this, despite sponsored blackmail, intimidation and campaign of calumny by agents of the embattled EFCC Chairman, Mr Bawa.

“Today, we have invited selected leaders of our various organizations, to further press home our demand, under an atmosphere of engagement with some more stakeholders, whom we have also invited to be part of us today.

“As frontline Anti-corruption activists, we wish to restate our uncompromising demand, for President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately releive Mr Bawa of the position of the Chairman of the EFCC. Mr Bawa has lost the moral capacity to continually preside over such an important law enforcement agency, having become a signpost for disobedience to the rule of law, particularly express orders of our courts.”

Lawson, who is also the Executive Director, Centre for Public Accountability, added, “This is just the first phase. We will be submitting petitions to relevant international agencies and embassies demanding sanctions against Bawa until he becomes law-abiding. We can’t allow our Judiciary be rubbished by anyone.

“We are by this medium, giving a seven-day ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari, in line with the mood of the nation currently, to direct the Inspector General of Police to effect the arrest order on Bawa and commit him to prison, as ordered by the court, after which our nationwide protests would resume.”

He saluted the courage of various leaders and groups who had been part of the sustained agitation for Bawa to be sacked on account of disobedience of court orders, and had refused to be intimidated even in the face of obvious threats.

The ‘Bawa Must Go’ protests, which started a week ago, were led by CACOL Chairman, Debo Adeniran; Executive Director, Zero Graft Centre, Kolawole Sanchez-Jude; Chairman, Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance, Toyin Raheem; Executive Director, Centre for Public Accountability, Olufemi Lawson; Spokesperson for the Transparency and Accountability Group, Ayodeji Ologun; Director, Activists for Good Governance, Declan Ihehaire; and Ahmed Balogun of Media Rights Concern, among over 100 notable leaders of Anti-corruption CSOs.

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NASENI, Foundation Mobilise Youths for Innovation, Global Competitiveness

Published

2 hours ago

October 27, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has urged Nigerian youths to move beyond consuming technology to becoming creators, innovators and inventors capable of competing on the global stage.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Mr Khalil Halilu gave the charge at the 2026 Emerging Youth Leaders Summit, hosted by Gracelink Foundation in Abuja on Monday.The summit which featured no fewer than 1000 young Nigerians, was titled,” Rise, Build, Become”.

The summit is designed to facilitate learning, mentorship and inspiration for youths through engagements with accomplished Nigerians.Halilu Represented by the agency’s acting Director, Research and Laboratory Development, Dr Bakare Hassan, urged the youths to take advantage of NASENI’s Science Kits for Secondary Schools Programme to pursue careers in science, engineering, and technology.

According to him, Nigeria’s future depends on the country’s ability to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, technology and opportunities to solve national challenges.“We want our young people to grow from being consumers of technology into creators, innovators, and inventors who can compete globally.

“We are creating opportunities for young Nigerian innovators to access funding, mentorship, and the support needed to transform promising ideas into viable products and businesses.

“You do not have to wait until you occupy a position of authority before you begin to make a difference. Start by identifying a problem around you, ask questions, learn new skills, collaborate with others, and develop solutions.

“Leadership is not merely about the position you occupy; it is about the problems you solve and the positive impact you make.

“Our message to every young girl is simple; your gender should never limit your ambition, creativity, or contribution to national development.”

The executive vice chairman called on the GraceLink foundation, educational institutions, entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and young innovators to collaborate with NASENI in advancing science education, engineering development, and entrepreneurship.

In her remarks, the President of GraceLink foundation, Mrs Obioma Levi-Johnson called on the Federal Government to introduce leadership education and mentorship programmes in schools to prepare young Nigerians for future leadership roles.

Levi-Johnson said leadership development should begin in the classroom, emphasising the need to equip teachers with the resources and skills required to nurture responsible and value-driven young people.

According to her, leadership goes beyond occupying political offices; young people can become leaders in various fields, including medicine, engineering, technology and other professions.

“Leadership is not only being the president or being in the senate or even being a governor in the state. Leadership goes beyond that. People can lead in different industries.”

She said that summit was designed to inspire teenagers aged between 13 and 18 through interactions with professionals, innovators and other accomplished individuals.

She noted that mentorship was a critical component of youth development, saying that guidance from experienced professionals could help young people to make informed career choices and avoid mistakes.

The Chairman of the Gracelink foundation, Mr Samuel Ekweghariri, urged youths to assess political candidates based on track records, performance and ability to address societal challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said that young Nigerian youths must resist monetary inducements and other considerations that could undermine their ability to make informed electoral choices, stressing the need to prioritise candidates with proven records of creating value.

“As we move into the electoral season, I will like young Nigerians to think of what they want to be in five or 10 years because the decisions that our government makes today will impact and affect that future,” he said.

Ekweghariri advised voters against supporting candidates merely because of their appearance, campaign promises or inducement.

The chairman also advised the electorate to examine candidate’s previous performances and contributions to society.

According to him, voters should consider whether candidates have demonstrated the capacity to address existing challenges and provide solutions to emerging needs.

“You do not vote because of how somebody looks or what somebody has said. You vote because of the knowledge you have about their track record and the value they have created in their previous positions or careers.”

Ekweghariri explained that the quality of political leadership had implications for the country’s technological development, infrastructure and economic opportunities.

He said that emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) required reliable electricity and affordable internet connectivity.

He also said voters should therefore consider candidates’ commitment to providing essential infrastructure and creating an enabling environment for innovation and economic growth.

The initiative forms part of NASENI’s broader effort to strengthen Nigeria’s science, engineering and technology ecosystem by identifying innovators early and creating pathways for their ideas to progress from prototypes towards funding, development and eventual commercialisation.

The event was attended by the Managing Director of AEDC, Mr Chijioke Okwuokenye, the Africa Regional Lead, HealthLearn, Dr Obinna Ebirim, the Co-Founder, Buypower Inc., Mr Oladipo Asehinde, the Founder, DVIPC Academy, Ms Onyekachi Eriobu-Aniede, among others

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