Renowned human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has raised his voice against what he considers an unlawful practice, stating that the simultaneous appointment of chairmen for both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from the same geopolitical zone contradicts the Federal Character Principle.
Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made this assertion during a live appearance on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily” program on Monday. He contended that if the EFCC’s chairman hails from the northern region, then the chairman of the ICPC should be appointed from the southern region.
Presently, both the recently appointed chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, and the ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, are from the South-West geopolitical zone.
Expressing his concerns about President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Mr. Olukoyede as the EFCC chairman, given his origin in the South-West, like the current ICPC chairman, Falana remarked, “There is no issue; the only issue that has been raised has to be considered by the government is that we have in this country the Federal Character Commission Act, and also by the virtue of Section 14 of the constitution, appointments must reflect Federal Character.”
He elaborated on the Federal Character Commission Act’s provisions, emphasizing the need for geographic diversity in public service appointments. Falana pointed out that if there are two positions, one must go to the North, and one to the South; if there are four, two to the South and two to the North, and so on.
While Mr. Falana acknowledged Mr. Olukoyede’s qualifications for heading the EFCC, he expressed his unease with the fact that both anti-graft agencies are currently led by individuals from the South-West geopolitical zone.
He stated, “So, I am not comfortable with the fact that the heads of the EFCC and the ICPC are from the same zone. Apart from that, Mr. Ola Olukoyede is eminently qualified to head the EFCC. My colleagues who have criticized the appointment have not looked at the relevant provisions of the EFCC, which is Section 2.”
Recalling the events of October 12, 2023, President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Mr. Olukoyede as the new EFCC chairman was shrouded in controversy. This appointment came following the contentious resignation of the embattled former EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who had been suspended on June 14, 2023, and detained by the Department of State Services due to allegations of abuse of office.