Fulani not terrorists – Sultan
Bawa confirmed EFCC chair, vows to repatriate stolen assets
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said that Fulani are not terrorists. He said this in Abuja yesterday when a courtesy visit to the management and staff of National Hajj Commission (NAHCON).
“I have earlier stood on this; we are not terrorists and criminals. Of course, we have some bandits amongst us and it does not make a clan or the whole Muslims as criminals or bandits.
The Senate yesterday confirmed the nomination of Abdulrasheed Bawa as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Bawa was confirmed after he was grilled for about two hours on the floor of the Senate.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on February 16 asked the Senate to confirm Bawa as substantive chairman of the EFCC.
Bawa, 40, is a trained EFCC investigator with experience in the investigation and prosecution of advanced fee fraud cases, official corruption, bank fraud, money laundering, and other economic crimes.
Speaking at the Senate plenary, Bawa said his priority was to repatriate all looted assets stashed in foreign countries through strategic diplomacy.
He said he was aware of the enormity of the tasks as head of the anti-graft agency and pledged to discharge them without fear or favour.
“Our major objective which is close
“I am a proud Fulani and if I were to come back in this world again after I am gone, which definitely I wound not, I will ask Allah to bring me back as a Fulani man. I am a proud Fulani man but I am not a criminal, bandit or terrorist,” he said.
The sultan expressed optimism that the 2021 hajj would hold with the COVID-19 vaccines, urging Muslims not to contravene government protocols on the virus.
He noted that series of meetings were ongoing between Muslim scholars and to my heart is the fact that we need to repatriate all our stolen assets for the benefit of all Nigerians here at home,” he said.
Responding to a question on his qualifications, the new EFCC boss he was qualified to head the agency “academically, legally and professionally.”
He noted that the provisions of the Act that established EFCC was very clear on conditions for qualifications for chairmanship position.
He 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.
Bawa said all the forfeited assets were sold by the headquarters of the agency.
He said: “Anybody familiar with the processes and workings of the EFCC would know that even the Executive Chairman of the EFCC doesn’t have the powers to dispose of a single asset. That responsibilities lies with the office of the Secretary of the Commission.
“I’m starting from that end to confirm to Nigeria and this (Senate) that I, as the the government on the assurance of the vaccines to convince Muslims on its safety.
Earlier, Chairman, NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, said the board was charting a way to free the government from the financial burden of the commission through partnerships with the private sector.
He said the Hajj Savings Scheme was intended to bring down costs of Hajj services for intending pilgrims and enable the poorest among Muslims to afford it. zonal head of the EFCC, never for once, sold a single asset in Port Harcourt. I never did.
“The then Secretary of the Commission together with three directors and other staff from the headquarters flew in to Port Harcourt and disposed of the trucks and other assets that were forfeited to the Federal Government, sequel to our singular effort as part of the reformation that I brought to the Port Harcourt zonal office.”
He said as a result of the reform carried out under his leadership, 216 convictions were secured.
He said he had a cordial relationship with Ibrahim Magu, former acting chairman of the agency and was never arrested.
He said Magu called him to congratulate him when he was nominated to the position by President Muhammadu Buhari last week.
On how he would respond to pressure from influential individuals on any particular case, the nominee said: “On pressure, I’ll discharge my duties without fear or favour.”