The operational style of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has always been gross and highhanded. It is largely predicated on media trial – a conscious choice to name and shame suspects even when they have not been found guilty of the alleged offences. And guess what? It is hardly difficult to dissociate the personality of the individual heading the EFCC from its modus operandi.
But the emergence of a new EFCC boss, 40-year-old Abdulrasheed Bawa, had signaled some hope that, perhaps, things might begin to assume a different slant, only if he was disposed to doing things differently with the sole aim of setting a standard for better results.
The news of the alleged arrest of a former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha and his own narrative that he was merely invited for interrogation is a road many had traveled before. It fitted into the familiar practice of the EFCC. Unfortunately, only the EFCC could have either set the record straight, corrected the misinformation if any, or controlled the information ab initio.
But the EFCC would rather watch while people are embarrassed only to turn out that the information in the public space was not correct. Even more niggling is the fact that such sensationalised reports were usually leaked by EFCC agents, whose sole responsibility is to name and shame people – whether or not they are politically exposed.
If at all Bawa means business and wants people to believe it is not going to be business as usual, then, the poor operational style of the EFCC, which often casts aspersion on its image must be done away with. Bawa must not only speak about his intention to be different, he must act and be seen to be, indeed. Only then can he be said to be living the age of his ideas and the promises made. The EFCC should stop playing to the gallery. Enough!