Tinubu Seeks Senate’s Nod for Olukoyede, Hammajoda as EFCC Chair, Secretary

•Also Bulus Yakubu as NSIPA head  

•Approves pre-retirement leave for ICPC boss, names Aliyu as replacement, Oparaodu secretary

Deji Elumoye, Sunday Aborisade and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, urged the Senate to screen and confirm the appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede and Mr. Muhammad Hammajoda as Chairman and Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He also asked the Senate to approve the appointment of Mrs. Delu Bulus Yakubu as the pioneer National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA).

The NSIPA Establishment Act, 2023, was signed into law on May 22, 2023.

Yakubu is a recipient of a Master’s degree in agronomy from the State University of Bio-Technology in Kharkiv, Ukraine, with over 15 years work experience in Social Investment Programme management.

At the same time, the president has approved the appointment of Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu as Chairman/Chief Executive Officer and head of a new management team for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Similarly, Tinubu approved the appointment of Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu as Secretary to the Commission.

Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter read at plenary by Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau.

Tinubu had last Thursday approved the appointment of Olukoyede as EFCCchair and Hammajoda as Secretary, for a renewable term of four years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.

The appointment came nearly four months after the erstwhile anti-graft agency chief, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, was suspended.

 A statement  by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, stated that, “Mr. Olukayode’s appointment followed the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.”

Meanwhile, the appointment of Aliyu is subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate is in line with powers conferred on the President as established in Section 3(6) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and in furtherance of the Renewed Hope mandate to reform key institutions and invigorate Nigeria’s war on corruption.

Another release by Ngelale, stated that the new Chairman of the ICPC was nominated for confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, following the President’s approval of the outgoing Chairman’s request to proceed on pre-end of tenure leave beginning on November 4, 2023, ahead of the expiration of his tenure on February 3, 2024.

Aliyu had embarked upon many far-reaching reforms as the Attorney General of Jigawa State since September 2019 and holds Bachelors, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in law. He was also named Senior Advocate of Nigeria-designate in October 2023.

The position of Secretary to the Commission did not, however, require Senate confirmation and, therefore, by the directive of the president, the appointment of Oparaodu as Secretary took immediate effect.

Oparaodu is a lawyer with over 30 years of experience and has served meritoriously in the public service as a member of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission and Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council.

The president implored the new management team of the ICPC to always be above board as they discharge their duties without fear or favour concerning all matters before them.

Meanwhile, a pro-democracy group, Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEHUR), yesterday, protested to the National Assembly to register their disapproval of the appointment of Olukoyede.

The group declared that his appointment was done in gross violation of the extant laws, which was the EFCC Establishment Act 2004.

National Secretary of CEDEHUR, Adebayo Lion Ogorry, read a copy of the letter which was submitted to the Senate leadership during the protest.

He said the exercise became necessary in order to draw their attention to the gross violation of the extant laws, which was the Establishment Act 2004 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  EFCC, by the President

“The action of President Bola Tinubu in making the appointment of Mr Olukoyede  into such a high office with enormous responsibility as the Chairman of the EFCC in fragrant 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.

“It is important to note that the EFCC Extant laws remain sacrosanct and needed to be strictly adhered to before going ahead to appoint a chairman for the Commission,” he said.