Youths from various ethnic groups and over 100 anti-corruption crusaders, Thursday, called on the Executive Chairman, Economy and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to resign and surrender for investigation, following allegations of corrupt activities by various quarters.

They made this call during a protest staged in Lagos, to press home their demand that “If Bawa remains adamant, he should be forced out and subjected to a comprehensive probe.”

Among other accusations, they alleged that about 80 per cent of cases under EFCC investigations are not taken to court.

Among others, they also recalled how Zamfara state governor, Bello Matawalle, alleged that Bawa demanded the sum of $2million from him as a bribe to stop a purported probe against him.

The protesters held placards with inscriptions such as “EFCC chairman must go”, “Bawa must step aside”, among others chanted slogans advocating for proper investigation into Bawa’s alleged corrupt escapades.

The convener, Engr. Godfrey Osolase, National Movement for Democratic Change, who read a statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator, Comrade Israel Uwejeyan Niger Delta Youth Congress; National Coordinator, Initiative for Ethics and Value Orientation, Comrade Bello Idowu; and National President, Northern Youth Frontiers Alhaji Mustapha Musa.

Osolase explained that the reason for the calls were based on global standards of practice for officials who had been accused of gross misconduct to step aside while investigations were conducted to ascertain the veracity of the allegations.

He said: “We demand that if Bawa remains adamant, he be forced out and subjected to a comprehensive probe the way his predecessor Ibrahim Magu was made to do. Since it is obvious by now that the Buhari administration
which brought Abdulrasheed Bawa is not disposed to initiating action, we call on the incoming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make it first priority to cleanse the EFCC of
corrupt leaders.

“Corruption is one of the most serious social and security challenges facing Nigeria today which is the more reason why Tinubu should see it as an existential matter that needs
to be addressed and tackled robustly and defeated once for all.

“No nation can aspire to greatness or seek to remain secure and safe when corruption and other corrupt practices are allowed to find their way into all its vital institutions including the agency saddled with the responsibility of fighting it. For this reason, corruption must be confronted with the entire will and resolve of the incoming administration.”