Protest Hits National Assembly Over Confirmation Of New EFCC Boss, Olukoyede

Protestors stormed the National Assembly on Tuesday, to oppose the confirmation of the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede.

Naija News recalls that President Bola Tinubu wrote the Senate on Tuesday for the confirmation of Olukoyede and Muhammad Hammajoda as the substantive Chairman and Secretary of the anti-graft agency, respectively.

The President’s letter was read at the plenary on Tuesday by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau.

Recall that President Tinubu announced the appointment of Olukoyede as the EFCC Chairman and Hammajoda as Secretary.

The appointment came nearly four months after Tinubu suspended the former EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.

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

However, Olukoyede’s appointment has since stirred up controversies as critics say he has no experience related to the office whatsoever.

Meanwhile, members of the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, on Tuesday, stormed the premises of the National Assembly to kick against the choice of Olukoyede as the next EFCC chairman.

The group’s National Secretary, Adebayo Ogorry, during the protest, alleged that the choice of Olukoyede contravened the extant laws guiding the appointment of the EFCC chairman.

He said, “The action of President Tinubu in making the appointment of Mr Olukoyede into such a high office with enormous responsibility as the Chairman of the EFCC in flagrant breach of the provisions of the laws of the parliament is contrary to the oath he took on May 29, 2023, to protect and defend the laws of the nation.”