Senate Begins Screening Of Olukoyede, Hammajoda As EFCC Chair, Secretary

Ola Olukoyede and Muhammad Hammajoda have both arrived on the floor of the National Assembly to be screened as Chairman and Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), respectively.

Naija News recalls that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, on October 12, 2023, appointed Olukoyede and Hammajoda as chairman and secretary of the anti-graft agency, respectively, pending Senate screening and confirmation.

Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, had explained in a statement earlier that Olukoyede’s appointment is for a renewable term of four years in the first instance.

He also said the President appointed Hammajoda to serve as the Secretary of the EFCC for a renewable term of five years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.

Naija News reports that the leadership of the country’s focal anti-graft agency has experienced a shakeup in the last few months since the assumption of President Tinubu, on May 29, 2023.

On June 14, 2023, the President suspended Abdulrasheed Bawa indefinitely as the anti-graft agency boss.

Bawa was suspended “to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office”. The action followed “weighty” allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.

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, Olukoyede becomes the new helmsman of the commission, pending the senate’s confirmation.