Nigeria’s main anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has announced Mr Abdulkarim Chukkol as the Acting Chairman of the commission.

This announcement followed the suspension of Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the chairman of the EFCC.

The Acting Chairman is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), National Academy, Quantico, the European Center of Security Studies, Germany, and also a Fellow of the War College, Nigeria.

Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC’s spokesperson, made the announcement in a statement on Thursday, highlighting that Abdulkarim Chukkol was the commission’s Director of Operations prior to his current appointment.

The statement said: “Following Wednesday, June 14, 2023, suspension of Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, as Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by the Federal Government, Mr Abdulkarim Chukkol has stepped in as Acting Chairman of the commission.

“A pioneer staff of the commission and an illustrious member of the EFCC Cadet Course One, Mr Chukkol is a consummate and vastly experienced investigator with a specialty in cybercrime and money laundering.

“His command appointments in the commission include spells as Head of the Advance Fee Fraud and Cybercrime Sections of the Lagos and Abuja zonal commands between 2011 and 2016, pioneer commander of the Uyo zonal command in 2017 and commander of Port Harcourt Zonal Command in 2020.”

Uwujaren added, “He is Nigeria’s contact person at the International Mass Marketing Fraud Working Group representing key government regulatory, law enforcement, prosecution, immigration and customs, financial intelligence, consumer protection agencies as well and trade and competition bureaus dealing with mass marketing-related issues from Spain, Nigeria, Belgium, Europol, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States.

“He has attended several courses, seminars and workshops on Public Corruption, Advance Fee Fraud and other economic and financial crimes both locally and internationally, including the Oxford University, United Kingdom, in 2022.

“His work and initiatives over the years have earned him several awards and commendations both locally and internationally, including “the Most Outstanding Award in Operations” by the EFCC and the “Outstanding Performance Award” by the United States Department of Justice, among others.

“He is also an alumnus of the FBI National Academy, Quantico; European Center of Security Studies, Germany and a Fellow of the War College, Nigeria.”