Group Accuses EFCC Boss, Bawa Of Shielding NIMASA DG Over Alleged Diversion Of N1.5Trillion, $9.8Million

A civic organisation, Centre for Public Accountability (CPA) and Civil Society Partners, has slammed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdurasheed Bawa, for allegedly obstructing justice and shielding the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr Bashir Jamoh.

The group alleged that the EFCC, under the leadership of Mr Bawa, has refused to carry out a thorough investigation into the alleged diversion of funds, to the tune of N1.5 trillion and $9.8 million by the DG of NIMASA.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday over Bawa’s comprised stand in the case, the group and its CSO partners called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the EFCC Chairman to allow the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to take over Jamoh’s case.

CPA alleged that Bawa’s alleged compromise in the investigation may be connected to the scholarships Mr Jamoh reportedly gave to three siblings of the EFCC Chairman, namely Mustapha Bawa Yusuf, Bawa Hassan Ibrahim and Haruna Mustapha Bawa.

The Executive Director of CPA, Olufemi Lawson, who addressed journalists, stated in the text of the address obtained by SaharaReporters that the group views Bawa’s stands as maladministration and abuse of office.

Olufemi said, “Our focus and address today, is premised on the worrisome involvement of the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Abdurasheed Bawa, whose actions, and abuse of office, is beginning to constitute an obstruction to the cause of justice.

“We have waited till today to see if the EFCC, under the leadership of Mr Bawa, will do the needful, as challenged by DG NIMASA himself, to carry out a thorough investigation, into the allegations of diversion of funds, amounting to the tune of N1.5 trillion and $9.8 m respectively, but till date, nothing visible to Nigerians, including our independent findings, has been done by the EFCC.

“Recall that on May 21, 2021, an online newspaper, Point Blank published an exclusive story in which the newspaper alleged that the DG of NIMASA, Mr Bashir Jamoh, was involved in some shady deals, ranging from blatant corruption and abuse of office.

“We were pleasantly surprised when the accused Mr Bahir Jamoh openly challenged the EFCC to investigate him and make public his findings.”

Olufemi said regrettably, after more than a year, it has become a hide-and-seek game, as nothing has been heard, from the EFCC.

“It was during this period having followed the allegations with keen interest that we stumbled on reasons, why these allegations against Mr Jamoh, may have been swept under the carpet.

“Curiously, three of the EFCC Chairman’s siblings namely; Mustapha Bawa Yusuf, Bawa Hassan Ibrahim and Haruna Mustapha Bawa are enjoying ‘scholarships’ from Mr Jamoh that the EFCC ought to be investigating at that time. We wonder if this is not corruption and the negotiation for the compromise of the investigation which should have been conducted on Bashir Jamoh; that is, if something is been done in that regard at all.

“The details of how they became beneficiary is in the attached documents. We view this as an act of maladministration and abuse of office from the EFCC chairman whose brothers are being sponsored by an accused that is under his radar.

“We want President Muhammadu Buhari to step into this matter, and direct the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to take over Bashir Jamoh’s case with the view to get to the root of the matter.

“We also want the National Assembly, especially the Senate to ask the EFCC chairman to step aside, while a thorough investigation is carried out to unravel the mystery behind the ‘scholarships’ given to his siblings.

“We have monitored the EFCC chairman and have discovered that he’s always playing to the gallery instead of facing the task of preventing and fighting corruption headlong.

“To buttress our stand that Abdurasheed Bawa is cherry-picking in his investigations two cases will suffice here:

“You are all aware of the corruption allegations against the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa. Apart from the sensational report in the media, up till today, more than two years after, he has not been charged and neither has the case been conclusive.

“Whereas in the case of another Assembly Speaker in nearby Ogun State, Mr Olakunle Oluomo was promptly arrested at the airport and charged to court, by the Bawa-led EFCC. Is this not a case of double standard or cherry-picking depending on who’s involved?

“Without prejudice to the ongoing case, EFCC chairman was in the news for the wrong reason recently when he was sentenced for contempt.

“A judge ruled that a Sport utility Range Rover and N40m be returned to the owner since 2017 and he declined until the judge made that consequential order that he should be arrested and sent to Kuje prison.

“He also did not obey the ruling until he got an appeal court order to vacate the ruling.”

Correspondence and bromide of NIMASA’s letter written on behalf of EFCC chairman’s brothers

Mr. Bawa Hassan Ibrahim
Jega Kebbi Nigeria
October 20th 2022
Dear Bawa Hassan Ibrahim,
Re: Bachelor of Science in Marine Operations
Thank you for your application to study the above course at Centurion University of Technology and Management, Bhubaneswar. I am pleased to confirm that we have made you an unconditional offer, the details of which are set out below:
Course Title: Course Duration: Course Start Date: Course End Date:
Bachelor of Science in Marine Operations
Three Years
October 03rd 2022 (Extension granted until 07th November 2022)
March 2025 (exact end date depends on dates of external exams and any resit)
Tuition fees for the first year (2022) has been fully paid by the sponsor. fully paid by the sponsor.
Type of Offer: Unconditional (this means that all conditions have been met and your place is secured)
Conditions of Offer: None
Enrolment Information
Your enrolment and induction information will be sent to you approximately one week prior to your course start date. Please note that you must produce the originals of all documents (with official English translations where necessary) to enroll on your program of study.
Accommodation
Your accommodation has been reserved on campus during your study at Centurion University and Meals will be provided at campus dining facility.
Continued….
Tuition Fees:
Accommodation Fees: On campus accommodation fees including meals for the first year has been

Visa Information
Additional information that you may need to supply when making your visa application is provided below.
SPONSOR:
VISA CATEGORY: COURSE TITLE: COURSE LEVEL: COURSE DURATION: COURSE START DATE: COURSE END DATE:
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) General Student Visa
Bachelor of Science in Marine Operations
Bachelor’s Degree
Three Years
October 03rd 2022 (Extension granted until 07th November 2022)
March 2025 (exact end date depends on external exam dates and any resit)
PLACE OF STUDY:
School of Engineering and Technology Centurion University
Ramchadarpur, Bhubaneswar Campus Odisha- 752050
India
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCEAca Academic Transcript, Passport and Sponsor letter from USED TO ASSESS THE NIM NIMASA
SUITABILITY OF APPLICANT:
Please bring this offer letter with you to India as you will be asked to produce evidence of your university place at enrolment.
If you have any queries regarding this letter, please email Mr. Suman Kumar at maritime@cutm.ac.in Yours sincerely
Email: prasanta.mohanty@cutm.ac.in Web: www.cutm.ac.in
Dr. Prasanta Kumar Mohanty
Dean – Academic
Centurion University of Technology and Management
Bhubaneswar Campus