By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
Reports by NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER sources close the family of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, revealed on Thursday night, that the health condition of the Anti-graft Czar had improved significantly by late evening of same Thursday.
The source also disclosed that Bawa's doctors were around him late on Thursday to further observe the progress of his health which disrupted his speech on Thursday during a Presidential Villa Abuja event. Bawa was in the middle of his speech when he suddenly felt a slight dizziness which was attributed to possible stress and mental exhaustion, probably from over work.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER was reliably informed by the source, that Bawa was able to have his meals and some medications to further stabilize his condition. The source also hinted that he managed to "crack some jokes with family members, some very close friends and with his medical physicians before retiring for proper rest".
He also appeared in a television programme on Thursday to further give public assurances about his health state.
The EFCC boss had experienced some bouts of fainting on Thursday September 16, 2021, while making a speech during a programme at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Bawa was speaking on the importance of digital identification in commemoration of the National Identity Day when he suddenly felt some fainting attacks that made him to hold his forehead in obvious discomfort.
He quietly suspended his speech midway and managed to walk uneasily from the stage to his chair before he was assisted by officials to where he received some first aid treatment to put him in a stable state. The EFCC chairman was however accompanied by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, to his treatment centre at the State House Clinic.
Moments later, the spokesman of the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren, issued a press statement, assuring that his boss was "hale and hearty".
Wilson stated thus: “The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa is hale and hearty.
“This clarification became necessary following an incident today September 16, 2021 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja where he was giving a goodwill message to the National Identity Day celebration, felt unwell and had to return to his seat. He has since received medical attention and is due back to his desk".
However, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, had also assured that Bawa was in a stable condition shortly after he returned to the event hall from from the Presidential Health Center.
The Minister attributed Bawa's condition to pressure and work burden.
Following a reasonable improvement in his condition later on Thursday, Bawa featured in a weekly broadcast programme, Politics Today, on Channels Television, assuring that he was relatively okay.
Narrating his health incident on air, the EFCC chairman who fielded questions from the TV station from his house in Abuja, however said he was feeling better.
"I am ok. You can see that I am very much ok. Being the 16th of September, today is the National Identity Day and I was invited for a programme by NIMC, or specifically by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. And while giving my goodwill message during the progamme, there was a bit of dizziness on me, and I had to excuse myself from the stage.
“Of course, I went straight to the hospital where the doctors confirmed to me that everything about me is ok, except for the fact that I am a bit dehydrated, and I need to take a lot of water.”
Bawa told his TV interviewer that after the state House incident, he immediately went from the presidential villa medical center to his office to attend to some pending official matters before going home to rest.
The anti-graft boss thanked Nigerians for showing concern, prayers and good wishes, which, according to him, inspired his immediate recovery. He promised to show more dedication to his job of waging war against financial crimes in the country. NNL.
