The Nigerian Senate confirmed Ola Olukayode as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday.
Muhammad Hammajoda was also confirmed as the Secretary of the anti-graft agency. Olukoyede and Hammajoda were appointed by President Bola Tinubu on October 12.
Since taking office, Tinubu has made changes to various government parastatals. The former governor of the Central Bank was the first to go, followed by Abdulrasheed Bawa, who was suspended indefinitely on June 14, 2023. The President suspected Bawa of “weighty” allegations of abuse of office and ordered his arrest.
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Abdulkarim Chukkol, the Director of Operations at the Commission, was appointed as the Acting EFCC Chair while a replacement was found for Bawa. The Presidency, via its spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, explained that Olukoyede’s appointment would be renewable in four years in the first instance, while the EFCC secretary, Hammajoda, was renewable in five years in the first instance.
Some senior lawyers criticized Olukoyede’s appointment, claiming that he was not an Assistant Commissioner of Police and, therefore, not suitable for the position. However, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana supported Olukoyede’s appointment, stating that he was qualified and had the experience necessary to lead the Commission.
Falana also advised that the Chairman of the Independent Corruption Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should be appointed from the North since EFCC is from the South. Olukoyede and the ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, were both from the South-West geopolitical zone.
On Tuesday, President Tinubu announced that Owasanoye would proceed on pre-end of tenure leave. Mr Tinubu subsequently appointed a northerner, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Jigawa State, Dr Musa Aliyu, as the new ICPC Chairman.
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