Protesters Rally at National Assembly, Voicing Discontent Over EFCC Chairman Selection

President Bola Tinubu has submitted a letter to the Senate, requesting the confirmation of Ola Olukoyede as the substantive Chairman and Muhammad Hammajoda as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, read the President’s letter during the plenary on Tuesday.

Last week, the Presidency announced Tinubu’s decision to appoint Olukoyede as the new EFCC Chairman and Hammajoda as the Secretary. This move came after the suspension of the former EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, approximately four months ago.

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

However, on Tuesday, members of the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights staged a protest at the National Assembly, expressing their opposition to Olukoyede’s selection as the next EFCC chairman. The group’s National Secretary, Adebayo Ogorry, alleged that the choice of Olukoyede violated the existing laws governing the appointment of the EFCC chairman.

Ogorry emphasized, “President Tinubu’s action in appointing Mr. Olukoyede to such a crucial position with significant responsibilities as the Chairman of the EFCC, in direct violation of parliamentary laws, contradicts the oath he took on May 29, 2023, to uphold and defend the nation’s laws.”