SENATE CONFIRMS NEW EFCC CHAIR

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday confirmed Ola Olukoyede as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and Muhammad Hammajoda as Secretary of the commission amid opposition and objections from some Nigerians.

The Senate also confirmed Halima Shehu as the National Coordinator and chief executive officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) after screening all nominees on Wednesday.

The confirmation of Olukoyede who served as the secretary of the Commission, and Hammajoda follows a letter from President Tinubu on Tuesday to the Senate urging expeditious confirmation of his appointees.

It will be recalled that members of the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, on Tuesday, stormed the premises of the National Assembly to kick against the choice of Ola Olukoyede as the next EFCC chairman.

 The group’s National Secretary, Adebayo Ogorry, during the protest, alleged that the choice of Olukoyede contravened the extant laws guiding the appointment of the EFCC chairman.

 Ogorry said, “The action of President Tinubu in making the appointment of Mr Olukoyede into such a high office with enormous responsibility as the Chairman of the EFCC in flagrant breach of the provisions of the laws of the parliament is contrary to the oath he took on May 29, 2023 to protect and defend the laws of the nation.”

It will also be recalled that the Presidency announced last week, Tinubu’s decision to appoint Olukoyede as the EFCC Chairman and  Hammajoda as Secretary.

The appointment came nearly four months after Tinubu suspended the former EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, “Mr Olukoyede’s appointment followed the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.”