The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, whose corruption scandal was swept under the carpet when he headed EFCC’s Rivers office, has blamed Nigerian youths for most economic crimes committed in the country.

In a statement signed by Tony Orilade, Head of Public Interface Unit at the agency and published on the agency Facebook page, Mr Bawa was speaking at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Abuja Wednesday.

“One critical group of stakeholders are the youths. Apart from the fact that they are considered leaders of tomorrow, most economic crimes, especially cybercrimes, are committed by young people,” the EFCC chairman said.

He urged young Nigerians to support the fight against corruption in the country.

“It, therefore, follows that young people must not be mere spectators in the anti-graft campaign. Rather, they should actually be the foot soldiers, leading the mass route of corruption and economic crimes out of our land,” Mr Bawa said. 

“We are inviting you to lend a hand in helping us build a society where there is respect for law and order and where impunity is a thing of the past.”

In September 2020, Peoples Gazette exposed how Mr Bawa sold at least 244 trucks worth between N20-30 million each to his proxies at N100,000, or slightly more, per unit.

However, ignoring the pending corruption case, President Muhammadu Buhari went ahead in February to appoint Mr Bawa to head the EFCC, drawing wide criticism from Nigerians.