The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday formally announced Mr. Abdulkarim Chukkol as the acting chairman of the agency following the indefinite suspension of Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa from office for alleged abuse of office.
Spokesman for the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday.
He said the acting chairman, who is an alumnus of FBI National Academy, is a pioneer staff of the commission and member of the EFCC Cadet Course One.
Chukkol, according to the statement, holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Maiduguri (2000) and Post Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia, United States as well as Graduate Diploma in Cybersecurity and Spectrum Management from the United States Telecommunication Training Institute, Washington DC, United States.
The statement reads: “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,”
“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 Centre of Security Studies, Germany and a Fellow of the War College, Nigeria.”
