Falana Tackles Tinubu Over Appointment Of EFCC, ICPC Chairmen From Same Geopolitical Zone

By Akinwale Kasali

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, has lamented the appointment of Chairmen of anti graft agencies, Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Comission, ICPC, from the same geopolitical zone.

He said it was unlawful and against the Federal Character Principle.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday, the Legal luminary said if the Chairman of the EFCC is from the Northern region, then the chairman of the ICPC should be appointed from the Southern region.

Ola Olukayode and Bolaji Owasanoye were recently appointed as EFCC and ICPC Chairmen respectively by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. Both men are from the South West Geopolitical Zone.

Condemning the appointment, Falana said, “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.

“If you are going to have the EFCC and the ICPC, the heads cannot come from same zone. If there are two positions in the public service, one must go to the North, and one must go to the South. If there are four, two must go to the South, and two must go to the North. If there are six, one must go to each geopolitical zone. That is the law in Nigeria today.”

Falana said that though the new EFCC’s Boss is very much qualified to head the Commission, but he, as a person, is not comfortable with the fact that the heads of both anti-graft agencies are from the South-West geopolitical zone.

“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 criticised the appointment have not looked at the relevant provisions of the EFCC which is Section 2”, he submitted.