EFCC Chair: Appointment of Olukayode Contradicts EFCC Act, Says CSO

By Kayode AdeyemoA Adeyemo/LAGOS// A Civil Society Organization, CSO, has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of a lawyer, Mr.Ola Olukayode, as the new Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The group, identified as Save Democracy Movement, SDM, described as illegal the appointment of a ĺawyer to head the agency and as such, called on the National Assembly not to confirm the appointment.

According to a statement by the group’s National Convener, Abiodun Williams, the act establishing the anti-graft agency does not allow anyone without security and law enforcement experience to occupy the position of an Executive Chairman.To butress his claim, he cited a sections of the act which provides that the agency’s Chairman shall be ‘a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent; and shall also possess not less than15 years cognate experience’. He noted that until that was amended by the National Assembly, they memain the pre-conditions for one to head the agency. Williams argued that the EFCC Act did not provide for lawyers to lead the agency because, according to him, that would affect their constitutional role of defending suspects, including those dragged to court by the agency.

The group explained that the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police was only used as the minimum qualification when the agency was newly established and as such, it cannot continue with that standard now that Course 2 Officers have been trained and are available to take the lead.

He called on stakeholders suc as: the National Assembly, the Nigeria Bar Association,NBA, security agencies, law enforcement agencies, the Media, etc, to come together and defend the law of the land by ensuring that an agency as vibrant the EFCC is not gagged through undue appointments.

President Tinubu’s Thurday appointment of Mr Olukayode Ola as the new EFCC Chairman following the resignation of the embattled former Chairman, Mr. Abdurasheed Bawa, has been generating a lot of controversy across the country, with many resigning to fate, saying they won’t be surprised if the Olukayode starts working in that capacity without the National Assembly’s confirmation, because according to them, a serving National Youth Corps member, Hannatu Musawa, 43, is currently serving a Minister, despite her non- confirmation by the National Assembly.