The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has appointed Mr. Abdulkarim Chukkol as the Acting Chairman of the commission.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that this development follows President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, the immediate past chairman of the commission.
Mr. Chukkol, a member of the EFCC Cadet Course One, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He is an alumnus of prestigious institutions such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy in Quantico, the European Center of Security Studies in Germany, and the War College in Nigeria.
With a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Maiduguri, Mr. Chukkol enhanced his expertise through a Post Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia in the United States. Additionally, he holds a Graduate Diploma in Cybersecurity and Spectrum Management from the United States Telecommunication Training Institute in Washington DC.
According to Wilson Uwujaren, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Mr. Chukkol previously served as the Director of Operations of the commission before assuming his new position. In a statement released on Thursday, Uwujaren highlighted Mr. Chukkol’s impressive background and accomplishments.
The statement reads, “Following the suspension of Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, by the Federal Government, Mr. Abdulkarim Chukkol has been appointed as the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.”
“Mr. Chukkol, an esteemed pioneer staff of the commission, possesses extensive investigative experience, particularly in cybercrime and money laundering. He has held key leadership positions within the EFCC, including serving as the Head of the Advance Fee Fraud and Cybercrime Sections of the Lagos and Abuja zonal commands between 2011 and 2016. In 2017, he became the pioneer commander of the Uyo zonal command, and in 2020, he assumed the role of commander of the Port Harcourt Zonal Command.”
Uwujaren further emphasised Mr. Chukkol’s international collaborations with law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, UK National Crime Agency, United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Secret Service, Australian Federal Police, Dutch Police, German Police, and South African Police. He also highlighted Mr. Chukkol’s involvement in the development of laws and infrastructure for effective law enforcement actions through close cooperation with other governments.
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.”
