The Nigerian Senate confirmed Ola Olukoyede and Muhammad Hammajoda as Chairman and Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC respectively.
The screening of the duo on Wednesday followed their nomination by President Bola Tinubu.
Fielding questions from Senators in plenary, Olukoyede identified three major steps the anti-graft agency under his leadership will take towards addressing financial crimes in Nigeria.
Olukoyede stressed the need to build the international image of the country to attract foreign direct investment opportunities for citizens.
He said the government and the people must share collective responsibility by showing commitment in ensuring the anti-graft agency carries out its mandate irrespective of who is being investigated.
According to Olukoyede, it is way better to prevent any financial crime rather than waiting for a crime to be committed and investigated.
In a remark, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, questioned the way and manner EFCC operatives carryout their arrests, saying it was most unconventional.
The leadership of the country’s anti-graft agency has experienced shakeup in the last few months since the assumption of President on May 29, 2023.
On June 14, 2023, the President suspended Abdulrasheed Bawa indefinitely as the anti-graft agency boss.
The President subsequently directed the Director of Operations at the Commission, Abdulkarim Chukkol, to step in as acting EFCC chair while the Department of State Services (DSS) took Bawa into custody.
However, with last Thursday’s appointment and Wednesday’s confirmation by the Senate, Olukoyede becomes the new helmsman of the commission and the appointment is for a renewable term of four years in the first instance.
In a similar development, the upper chamber also confirmed Halima Shehu as the chief executive officer (CEO) of National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
Â
SPEAKER
Ola Olukoyede- Newly Appointed EFCC Chairman
Sen. Godswil Akpabio-Senate President
Â
Â
