Former EFCC Chairman Bawa Launches Explosive Book Exposing Fuel Subsidy Scam in Nigeria
Abuja, Nigeria — June 2025
Abdulrasheed Bawa, the former Chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has unveiled a controversial new book that delves into the decades-long fuel subsidy scheme and its devastating cost to the Nigerian economy. The book, which has already stirred significant public interest, is titled “Crude Truth: The Untold Story of Nigeria’s Fuel Subsidy Fraud.”
At a press briefing held in Abuja, Bawa described the book as a culmination of years of investigation, experience, and untold encounters during his time at the EFCC. The former anti-corruption czar stated that the publication aims to “lift the veil on one of the country’s most entrenched and damaging fraud systems.”
A System Designed to Fail
The fuel subsidy program, originally intended to make petroleum products affordable for the average Nigerian, has long been criticized for being riddled with corruption, ghost companies, and inflated claims. According to Bawa, billions of dollars were siphoned annually under the guise of subsidy payments, with powerful individuals exploiting the system while the Nigerian people bore the economic burden.
“The real tragedy,” Bawa said during the launch event, “is that this was not just financial theft. It was a systematic sabotage of the country’s economy, carried out with impunity and at the expense of national development.”
Names, Evidence, and Shocking Revelations
While careful not to compromise ongoing investigations, Bawa revealed that the book includes previously undisclosed details of investigations, internal EFCC memos, and testimonies from whistleblowers. Several well-known political figures and business magnates are indirectly implicated, making the book a potential game-changer in Nigeria’s fight against corruption.
He added, “This is not a witch hunt. It is a call for accountability. Nigerians deserve to know the truth about what happened and who was responsible.”
Reactions and Implications
Early reactions to the book have been mixed. Civil society groups and anti-corruption advocates have hailed it as a bold move toward transparency, while some political figures have dismissed it as a “publicity stunt.” Legal experts believe the revelations could trigger fresh probes into subsidy-related cases that had gone cold or were quietly shelved.
Analysts also say the book may reignite debates over fuel pricing, government accountability, and the lingering effects of subsidy removal under various administrations.
A Personal Mission
Bawa, who left the EFCC in 2023 amid controversy, emphasized that the book was not written out of bitterness but as part of a broader mission to reform Nigeria’s public finance systems.
“The truth is uncomfortable,” he said, “but it is necessary. If we ever hope to rebuild trust in our institutions, we must start
with honesty.”
