The first four heads of Nigeria’s anti-corruption unit were also embroiled in controversies that led to their removal.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has indefinitely suspended the head of the economic and financial crimes unit, Abdulrasheed Bawa, for abuse of power.
Later on Wednesday, the president issued a statement saying the suspension was due to “substantial allegations of abuse of office” against Bawa.
The move comes a week after the president suspended the country’s central bank chief, Godwin Emerfele.
Local media reported that Bawa is currently being interrogated by the Nigerian secret police, just like Emefil.
A spokesman for the department, officially known as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
EFCC was established 20 years ago to investigate and prosecute financial crime, including money laundering and corruption.
Bawa, the fifth head of the MACC, was appointed in 2021 after the Senate refused to confirm his predecessor, Ibrahim Magu, for a four-year term.
Former occupants of the office were also embroiled in controversies that eventually led to their removal; Magu was also suspended by then-President Muhammad Buhari over corruption charges.
