AS President Bola Ahmed Tinubu clocks two years in office, his administration has been marked by suspension and outright sacking of key government officials.
In his first 100 days, the president suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa two, key figures at the heart of Nigeria’s financial and anti-corruption sectors.
This analysis reviews the sackings and suspensions that characterised Tinubu’s administration in the last two years.
Abdulrasheed Bawa
On June 15, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Abdulrasheed Bawa from his position as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The ICIR reports that the announcement was made via a statement issued by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), noting that the suspension was indefinite.
According to the statement, Bawa’s suspension followed weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him, and that the decision was taken to enable a proper and unhindered investigation into his conduct while in office.
Following his suspension, Bawa was invited by the State Security Service (SSS) and subsequently detained for four months. During this period, he was denied access to his family and legal counsel, an action that sparked widespread criticism from lawyers and civil society organisations (CSOs) in the country.
Many decried the prolonged detention without trial as a violation of his fundamental human rights and called for greater adherence to due process. In October 2023, Bawa was officially replaced with Ola Olukoyede, marking a significant leadership change at the anti-graft agency.
Godwin Emefiele
In June 2023, President Bola Tinubu suspended the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, citing ongoing investigations and planned financial sector reforms. He was directed to hand over to the Deputy Governor (Operations directorate) Folashodun Shonubi in an acting capacity.
By October, Tinubu formally sacked Emefiele along with all CBN deputy governors. He then nominated Olayemi Cardoso, a former Lagos Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, as the new CBN governor. Cardoso was later confirmed by the Senate for a five-year term.
Intelligence Chiefs
On June 19, 2023, President Bola Tinubu sacked eight key security and intelligence chiefs in a sweeping shake-up of the nation’s defence architecture. Those affected included the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Air Staff, Isiaka Amao; Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Gambo; Acting Inspector General of Police, Alkali Usman; Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali; and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Samuel Adebayo.
The ICIR reports that the president immediately named their replacements and also appointed new heads for strategic military formations, including the State House. These changes were accompanied by the announcement of additional special advisers.
Heads of aviation agencies
On December 13, 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the sack and replacement of several chief executive officers of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
The ICIR reports that the decision, announced by the then Presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, was aimed at aligning Nigeria’s civil aviation sector with international standards and enhancing consumer protection.
Those affected included the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Kabir Yusuf Mohammed; Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Akinola Olateru; and heads of NAMA, NiMET, and NCAT.
Additionally, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Musa Nuhu, was suspended to allow for an EFCC investigation into allegations of misconduct within the agency.
FCCPC, BPE CEOs
On January 8, 2024, President Bola Tinubu sacked Babatunde Irukera, CEO of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and Alexander Ayoola Okoh, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). The presidency stated the move was part of efforts to restructure and reposition key federal agencies.
Earlier that same day, Tinubu suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, following allegations of fund diversion into a private account. She was officially dismissed in October 2024.
Ahmad Salihjo
President Bola Tinubu approved the indefinite suspension of the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo on March 7, 2024, along with three executive directors Olaniyi Alaba Netufo (Corporate Services), Barka Sajou (Technical Services), and Sa’adatu Balgore (Rural Electrification Fund).
According to a statement by the president’s media team, the suspensions followed revelations from a probe into the agency’s financial activities. The officials were being investigated over the alleged mismanagement of over ₦1.2 billion, part of which has already been recovered by anti-graft agencies.
Solomon Arase
On June 10, 2024, Tinubu removed Solomon Arase as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), less than two years into his four-year tenure as stipulated by the Commission’s Act. He was immediately replaced by Hashimu Argungu.
The dismissal came just three days after The ICIR submitted a petition to the presidency, accusing Arase of using the police to harass its staff following the publication of an investigative report that exposed alleged misconduct during his time as IGP.
The ICIR had called for Arase’s suspension and investigation over alleged abuse of office and corruption.
Mamman Ahmadu
On June 15, 2024, Tinubu directed Mamman Ahmadu to resign from his position as Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). According to a statement by the president’s media team, the directive was part of broader efforts to restructure the public procurement system.
NPA, Printing and Minting MDs
On June 11, 2024, Tinubu ordered the immediate removal of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPM), Ahmed Halilu brother to former First Lady Aisha Buhari alongside four top executives of the company. Those affected included Ado Danjuma (Executive Director, Corporate Services), Chris Orewa (Executive Director, Operations – Lagos), Tunji Kazeem (Executive Director, Security Documents), and Victoria Irabor (Company Secretary).
The following day, the President also relieved Mohammed Bello-Koko of his position as Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), appointing Abubakar Dantsoho as his replacement. No official reason was provided for the dismissal.
Jalal Arabi
In August 2024, the President dismissed the chairman of the National Hajj Commission, Jalal Arabi, less than a year after appointing him in October 2023. Though no official reason was provided, the removal came amid an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged mismanagement and unlawful withdrawal of N90 billion earmarked for the 2024 Hajj subsidy.
The ICIR reports that Arabi was detained by the EFCC on August 16 in connection with the allegations. Following his dismissal, the President appointed a new head, Abdullahi Usman, for the commission.
Fatimah Quadri is a Journalist and a Fact-checker at The ICIR. She has written news articles, fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy in an effort to combat information disorder.
She can be reached at sunmibola_q on X or fquadri@icirnigeria.org