Senate Confirms Olukoyede As EFCC Chairman

The Senate has confirmed President Bola Tinubu’s nominee, Ola Olukoyede, as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Naija News reported earlier that Olukoyede and Muhammad Hammajoda, whom President Tinubu appointed as Secretary of the anti-graft agency, arrived at the National Assembly complex on Wednesday morning for their respective screening and confirmation proceeding.

Recall President Tinubu, on October 12, 2023, gave an appointment to the duo, seeking the Senate’s confirmation.

Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, had explained in a statement earlier that Olukoyede’s appointment is for a renewable term of four years in the first instance.

He also said the President appointed Hammajoda to serve as the Secretary of the EFCC for a renewable term of five years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.

On Wednesday, the Red Chamber subsequently confirmed the appointment of Hammajoda as the Secretary of the anti-graft agency.

The Senate also screened and confirmed the appointment of Halima Shehu as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

Naija News understands that there had been a series of controversies over Olukoyede’s appointment.

It is worthy of note that Olukoye is a lawyer, whom some analysts and senior lawyers, argued was not an Assistant Commissioner of Police and so therefore not fit to lead the nation’s number one anti-graft agency.

However, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, on Monday, countered their position, saying that Olukoyede is “eminently qualified” to lead the commission, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman (2016-2018) and Secretary to the Commission (2018-2023) as well as having 22 years cognate experience.

The senior lawyer, however, said if the EFCC chairman is from the northern region, the southern region should produce the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

As of Monday, Olukoyede and the then ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, were from the South-West geopolitical zone.

However, in a major shakeup on Tuesday, the President said Owasanoye would proceed on pre-end of tenure leave. The President subsequently appointed a northerner, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Jigawa State, Dr Musa Aliyu, as the new ICPC Chairman.