I have been receiving death threats since I assumed office – EFCC Chairman

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, says he has been receiving death threats since he was appointed chairman of the commission.

Bawa said this while responding to questions as a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.

Bawa, who said he was optimistic that the anti-graft agency will tame the monster of corruption in the country, said he recently received a death threat from somebody who is not under EFCC investigation.

“Last week I was in New York. A very senior citizen received a phone call from somebody who is not even under EFCC investigation. What he said to him is that I am going to kill the EFCC boss, the young man.

“This is to tell you how real corruption can fight back. Yes, because if you look at it, almost everywhere there are elements of it (corruption), but I am very optimistic we will succeed in taming the monster of corruption in this country.

Bawa said that the commission is expending energy on how to crack down on the gatekeepers of the proceeds of corruption in the country.

“Our attention is geared toward dealing with the issue of the utilization of funds whether in the private or public sector. We are looking at the avenue in which they are laundering the proceeds.”

“We are looking forward to dealing with what we call gatekeepers in money laundering to have rigorous and effective control over them.”

He identified the real estate/property industry as one of the sectors fingered as possible gatekeepers in money laundering.

He said the commission is already working with stakeholders in the property industry to achieve its objectives to rid the country of corruption

Bawa also said since Nigerians are very religious, the commission has designed a manual to engage religious bodies.

He stated, “Nigeria is a very religious country and that is why one of the issues that we do in public enlightenment is to engage with leaders of religious bodies.

“We are soon going to launch our interface with the Christian and Islamic communities to engage them on the ills of corruption.

“We have already designed the manual for that.”

The 40-year-old was appointed EFCC chairman by President Buhari in February. He replaced the former acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu. (Daily Trust/Channels TV)