The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has criticized the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chairman in Makurdi, Justin Gbagir for recent comments.

Gbagir had ascribed a statement to the Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa regarding judges and court cases.

He quoted Bawa as allegedly saying, “Even if you go to court, I have a good working relationship with judges.”

In a rejoinder, EFCC Head of Media, Wilson Uwujaren, said the claim was inaccurate.

He regretted how Bawa’s gesture in meeting with Gbagir over an incident involving him and the commission’s officers degenerated into a weapon of blackmail.

Uwujare explained that Bawa met Gbagir to give him fair hearing and explore avenues to address his complaints.

“At no time during the encounter was there reference to judges and their soft spot or the lack of it, for the EFCC boss and the Commission”, he noted.

The spokesman said as a law enforcement officer with over 16 years experience, Bawa is conversant with the impartiality of the judiciary and could not have made a disrespectful utterance.

“To have invented such a remark and ascribed it to the EFCC chair is not only disingenuous but grossly irresponsible”, the statement added.