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Ola Olukoyede is the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the Senate approved his nomination on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
Olukoyede’s appointment was confirmed by the lawmakers barely a week after President Bola Tinubu nominated him and forwarded his name to the Senate for confirmation.
His nomination came four months after the suspension of Abdulrasheed Bawa, the youngest and immediate-past chair of the commission.
While appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, Olukoyede said if the lawmakers confirmed his nomination, he would carry out his duty diligently.
He added that the EFCC under his leadership would go after any politician that commits financial crimes regardless of the political party they belong to.
After being grilled by the lawmakers, the Senate confirmed his nomination.
The lawmakers also confirmed the appointment of Muhammad Hammajoda as the Secretary of the anti-graft agency.
Olukoyede is the first Nigerian from the southern region to head the EFCC.
Earlier, Pulse had reported that protesters stormed the National Assembly to oppose Olukoyede's confirmation.
The protesters alleged that his appointment contravened the extant laws guiding the appointment of the EFCC chairman.
The group’s National Secretary, Adebayo Ogorry, argued that the appointment of Olukoyede was a breach of the provisions of the law.
“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,” he said.