The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised concerns about the arrest, detention, and subsequent release of Abdulrasheed Bawa, the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), by the Department of State Security (DSS). HURIWA is demanding full disclosure from both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the DSS regarding the circumstances surrounding Bawa’s detention and release.
HURIWA questioned the reasons behind Bawa’s arrest, which occurred in a seemingly secretive and unjustified manner. They also highlighted the cloud of suspicion and secrecy surrounding Bawa’s release and raise questions about whether his resignation from the EFCC was voluntary or coerced.
The organization emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in government agencies, especially those responsible for upholding the rule of law. They draw attention to the DSS’s involvement in the Enugu Election Petition Tribunal and its actions therein, which they perceive as partisan, and call for accountability in high-profile cases like Bawa’s detention.
HURIWA stressed that secrecy and a lack of transparency in such matters are contrary to democratic principles and raise concerns about a drift toward authoritarianism. They called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the DSS to provide the Nigerian people with the answers they deserve and uphold the values of democracy, transparency, and accountability in all government actions.
