By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr. Ola Olukoyede to lead the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This decision was unveiled on Thursday through a press statement delivered by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. A copy was made available to Irohinoodua.
Mr. Olukoyede is entrusted with a four-year term, renewable thereafter, to steer the EFCC’s mission.
However, it’s important to note that his appointment is contingent on the Senate’s approval, marking the final step in the process.
The statement read, “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 granted his approval for the appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), with an initial term of four years, subject to renewal pending Senate confirmation.
The decision to appoint Mr. Olukoyede comes following the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.
Additionally, President Tinubu has also given the green light for the appointment of Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda as the Secretary of EFCC, for an initial term of five years, pending Senate confirmation.
Mr. Olukoyede boasts a legal career spanning over 22 years, specializing in regulatory compliance consulting, and expertise in fraud management and corporate intelligence. He brings extensive experience within the EFCC, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman from 2016 to 2018, and as Secretary to the Commission from 2018 to 2023. Mr. Olukoyede has demonstrated his compliance with the statutory requirements for the position of EFCC Chairman.
On the other hand, Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda is a seasoned public administrator with a strong background in public finance management. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri and a Master’s in Business Administration from the same institution.
His career began as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, after which he ventured into banking, serving successfully at institutions such as the defunct Allied Bank and Standard Trust Bank.
President Bola Tinubu has called upon the newly appointed leaders of the EFCC to demonstrate their commitment and competence in the crucial national endeavor they’ve been entrusted with. He emphasized that the fight against corruption, now invigorated and equipped with reformed institutional structures, continues to hold a pivotal position within the President’s Renewed Hope agenda.
