President Tinubu Appoints Ola Olukayode As New EFCC Chairman

By Akinwale Kasali

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has finally appointed a new Chairman for anti graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The President, on Thursday, appointed Ola Olukayode following the resignation of suspended former boss of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa.

Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media & Publicity made the announcement in a statement on Thursday.

President Tinubu also approved the appointment of Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda as the Secretary to the anti-graft agency for a renewable term of five years in the first instance, pending Senate’s confirmation.

“By the powers vested in President Bola Tinubu as established in section 2 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, that “the Chairman and members of the Commission, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed by the President,” President Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede to serve as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a renewable term of four years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.

“ Ola Olukoyede is a lawyer with over twenty-two (22) years of experience as a regulatory compliance consultant and specialist in fraud management and corporate intelligence. He has extensive experience in the operations of the EFCC, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman (2016-2018) and Secretary to the Commission (2018-2023). As such, he fulfills the statutory requirement for appointment as Chairman of the EFCC.

“Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda is a public administrator with extensive experience in public finance management who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri and a Masters in Business Administration from the same university. He began his career as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi. From there, he went into banking, including successful stints at the defunct Allied Bank and Standard Trust Bank,” the statement reads.

President Tinubu therefore tasked the new leadership of the Commission to justify the confidence reposed in them.

This is the first time, since the Commission that a non -Northerner will head it. It is also the first time a non Police Officer, retired or serving, will head it.