Former Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has been conferred with the traditional title of ‘Tafidan Jega’, by the Jega Emirate Council of Kebbi State.
Report shows that while the former EFCC chairman was honoured with the ‘Tafidan Jega’ title, his uncle, Alhaji Ibrahim Yahaya Bawa, a former Executive Director, Services, of the Kaduna Refining and Petro-chemical Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, bagged the ‘Cigari Jega’ title.
Recalls that Bawa was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari on February 16, 2021, and confirmed by the Senate on February 24, 2021, as the substantive EFCC boss at the youthful age of 40.
However, there were twists in events following the election and assumption of office of President Bola Tinubu, as Bawa was arrested and detained by the Department of State Services on June 14, 2023, following an invitation to the head office of the Service over undisclosed reasons.
The irony of the Bala arrest was that he had only earlier before his arrest visited President Tinubu on the same day at the Villa.
However, Bala regained his freedom after spending over 100 days in the detention facility of the DSS on October 25, 2023.
In his brief remarks during the recently held ceremony which also marked his first public engagement after leaving office as the nation’s anti-graft boss, Bawa thanked the Emir of Jega, Alhaji Muhammadu Arzika for the honour bestow to him and his uncle, saying, “We, and the entire family, are assuring the monarch and the entire Emirate Council of our unalloyed loyalty and deep respect.”
While welcoming the former EFCC helmsman to his palace, the monarch reminded him of the courtesies demanded of his traditional office while executing his mandates for the good of the people of the Emirate Council.
The monarch also instructed the Bawa that as the Tafidan Jega, his responsibility is to direct and supervise the timely completion of all the development projects within the Emirate and ensure they touch the people positively.
