Senate confirms Olukoyede, Halima as EFCC, NSIPA chairs
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Senate on Wednesday, October 18, confirmed the nomination of Ola Olukoyede and Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda for appointment as chairman and secretary respectively of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
Also on Wednesday, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Mrs. Halima Shehu, for appointment as the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
The resolution of the red chamber followed its screening of the nominees in a Committee of the Whole, in Abuja.
President Ahmed Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday in a letter requested the Senate to consider approving the nominees for appointment.
Some Nigerians, including the campaign organisation of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, have kicked against the appointment which they say is illegal.
For instance, Daniel Bwala, the spokesperson for the PDP presidential campaign raised the objection on Olukayode’s appointment on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, saying the appointment violates Section 2 of the Commission’s Act.
According to Bwala, the Section 2 of the EFCC Act requires that the person to be appointed as the chairman of the anti-graft agency, amongst other things, must have been a serving or retired member of any security or law enforcement agency.
“The appointment of Olukayode as EFCC Chairman by PBAT is unlawful and illegal. It runs foul of the provisions of Section 2 of the EFCC ACT which requires that the person to be appointed as EFCC Chairman must amongst other things have been a serving or retired member of any security or law enforcement agency, must have 15 years cognate experience of law enforcement, and must not be below the rank of assistant commissioner of police,” Bwala who is also a lawyer said.
“Olukayode is a private legal practitioner and has never worked or belonged to any security or law enforcement agency as a member.
“He does not have 15 years cognate experience as a law enforcement officer and his private legal practice years cannot be equated to the rank in law enforcement.
“Not enough attending seminar courses as a private legal practitioner can equate to 15 years cognate experience contemplated by section 2 of the Act.
“He only has a stint as Chief of Staff of Magu and later became a secretary of the Commission, all of which last for less than six years.
“This government never ceases to amaze Nigerians. Who knows, maybe he is being appointed for a mission. God help Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, during his screening, Olukoyede advocated collective responsibility in the fight against corruption in the country.
He lamented that any time a suspect is being prosecuted by the agency, all his friends and relatives automatically declare the EFCC an adversary.
He said: “If tomorrow the EFCC moves to investigate, for example, the entire senators would declare the EFCC as an enemy which is not supposed to be.
“The fight against corruption can only succeed if all Nigerians take collective responsibility for eliminating corruption in the country.”
He also advocated reforms in the nation’s criminal justice system to aid speedy prosecution of corruption cases.
