TheCable

Abdulrasheed Bawa, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been released from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).

TheCable understands that Bawa was released a few minutes before 10pm on Wednesday.

Sources privy to the development confirmed his release but provided no further information on the prevailing circumstances.

Bawa was arrested by the secret police shortly after he was suspended as the chairman of the EFCC.

The DSS had invited him for questioning in respect of an ongoing investigation.

“The invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him,” Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesperson, had said.

President Bola Tinubu had on June 14 approved the suspension of Bawa as the chairman of EFCC and ordered a probe into his activities while in office.

According to a statement signed by Willie Bassey, director of information, office of the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), the suspension followed “weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against” Bawa.

Lawyers such as Pelumi Olajengbesi had faulted Bawa’s continued detention without charges, describing it as unconstitutional and a violation of his fundamental human rights.