THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says the former Director of Operations of the Commission, Abddulkarim Chukkol has assumed as its Acting Chairman.
This development followed the suspension of the former chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa by the Federal Government on Wednesday, June 14.
Bawa was suspended due to weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.
The ICIR reported that Bawa was directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Director, Operations in the Commission, who will oversee the affairs of the Office of the Chairman of the Commission, pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Earlier on, news circulated by some media outlets {now pulled down} that the former Director of Operation, Muhammad Umar Abba, who had previously functioned as acting chairman before the appointment of the embattled chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
On February 24, 2021, CP Abba made way for Abdul Rasheed Bawa as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC.
Findings by The ICIR revealed that Muhammad Umar Abba is a Deputy Commissioner of Police FCID.
A statement signed on Thursday, June 15, by the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren said that the Director of Operations of the Commission, Abdulkarim Chukkol assumed office in an acting capacity.
The statement stated that Chukkol was a pioneer staff of the Commission and an illustrious member of the EFCC Cadet Course One.
It stressed that Chukkol is a consummate and vastly experienced investigator with a speciality in cybercrime and money laundering.
According to the statement, “His Command appointments in the Commission include spells as Head of the Advance Fee Fraud and Cybercrime Sections of the Lagos and Abuja Zonal Commands between 2011 -2016, pioneer Commander of the Uyo Zonal Command in 2017 and Commander of Port Harcourt Zonal Command in 2020.”
It emphasised that Chukkol had participated in several special operations with international law enforcement organizations and maintained close relationships with Law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, UK National Crime Agency and United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
Others are the United States Secret Service, Australian Federal Police, Dutch Police, German Police and South African Police.
Chukkol had worked with other Governments to develop laws and infrastructure for law enforcement actions.
The statement noted that Chukkol is Nigeria’s Contact person at the International Mass Marketing Fraud Working Group, representing key Government regulatory, law enforcement, prosecution, immigration and customs, financial intelligence and consumer protection agencies.
He also played a crucial role in trade and competition bureaus dealing with mass marketing-related issues from Spain, Nigeria, Belgium, Europol, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
