The Department of State Services (DSS) has released a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa.
Bawa has been in custody since June, when President Bola Tinubu suspended him.
Willie Bassey, Director of Information at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said Bawa was suspended as a result of weighty allegations of abuse of office leveled against him.
Former governor of Zamfara State and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, had accused Bawa of demanding a $2 million bribe from him, an allegation which he denied.
Bassey had said the suspension was to allow for a proper investigation into his conduct while in office.
Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesman, said Bawa was released on Wednesday.
“DSS confirms release of former EFCC chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa a few hours ago (today, October 25, 2023).”
A video of Bawa being welcomed by his wives and children has since gone viral.
Sources familiar with the development revealed that top former and serving government functionaries had pleaded with the President to order the DSS to release Bawa.
“Yes, he was released today after much pressure from who is who in society,” one of the security sources, who pleaded anonymity, said.
Another source said he was released after the secret police concluded their investigations with him.
Recalled that Bawa’s house and office in the nation’s capital were earlier ransacked by the operatives of DSS after which he also celebrated his last Eid-el-Kabir in the secret police net.