EFCC: Controversy Over Alleged Indictment of Olukoyede By Justice Salami Panel

Daniel Bwala, a spokesman for the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, has slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Ola Olukoyode as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC despite his alleged indictment by a judicial panel of inquiry.

Bwala who spoke on Channels Television programe, Sunshine Daily on Tuesday said the appointment of the new EFCC Chairman is wrong considering his indictment alongside his former boss, Ibrahim Magu by a judicial panel headed by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Salami.

The PDP spokesman said the new EFCC Chairman “does not fit in,” adding that his appointment amounted to “approbating and reprobating” by the government which claimed to be fighting corruption.

Recall that Magu was sacked from office by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July  2020, the former leader later set up the retired Justice Ayo Salami judicial panel to investigate allegations of corruption against the former EFCC boss.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Olukayode last Thursday to replace Abdulrasheed Bawa who was also removed from office without any reason yet given for his removal, he’s currently being held by the Department of State Services, DSS.

But Monday Ubani, a former Nigerian Bar Association, NBA Chairman, Lagos branch said Olukoyede was never “indicted” by the panel neither was he invited by it for questioning.

He said the new EFCC chairman should be given an opportunity to run the anti-graft agency, saying he possessed the cognate experience to perform the job.

President Bola Tinubu, last Thursday, approved the appointment of Olukoyede to serve as the Executive Chairman, subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

His appointment comes barely four months after he suspended the erstwhile anti-graft agency chief, Bawa.

In a statement titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new EFCC. Chairman and Secretary of the Commission,’ signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu said he appointed Olukoyede following the resignation of Bawa.

“Mr. Olukoyode’s appointment follows the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa,” the statement said.

Olukoyede, a lawyer with over 22 years of experience as a regulatory compliance consultant and specialist in fraud management and corporate intelligence had served in the commission as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman, and Secretary to the agency.