Shocking Twist: Ex-Lagos Police Commissioner Odumosu Refutes Being Named EFCC Chairman
Former Lagos Police Commissioner Denies EFCC Chairman Appointment, Sparks Controversy
In a surprising turn of events, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Hakeem Odumosu vehemently denies being appointed as the substantive Chairman of Nigeria's prominent anti-corruption body, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Speculation arose after reports on Tuesday claimed that President Bola Tinubu had handpicked Odumosu to replace the former chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
On Wednesday, Odumosu took to social media to address the swirling rumors, stating, "Good Morning everyone, I have been inundated with so many calls and messages between yesterday and today on a purported 'EFCC Appointment.' I just want to use this opportunity to debunk this information and say it's totally untrue."
This denial comes amidst President Tinubu's decision to suspend the previous chairman on June 14, indefinitely, citing the need for a thorough investigation into alleged misconduct during his tenure. The presidency's official release states, "Mr. Bawa has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Director of Operations in the commission, who will oversee the affairs of the Office of the Chairman pending the conclusion of the investigation."
In a twist of events, Bawa himself was summoned by the Department of State Services for questioning regarding corruption and abuse of office allegations. Notably, this suspension follows Tinubu's recent suspension of the Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
As the situation unfolds, the controversy surrounding the EFCC chairmanship appointment continues to intensify, raising concerns about the future of Nigeria's fight against corruption.