Just in: President Bola Tinubu Appoints New Leadership for EFCC

By Iyojo Ameh

President Bola Tinubu has announced the appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede as the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The appointment was officially confirmed through a statement issued by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, spokesman of the president.

According to the statement, President Tinubu exercised the powers granted to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, which state that “the Chairman and members of the Commission, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed by the President.

Mr. Ola Olukoyede has been appointed to serve as the Executive Chairman of the EFCC for an initial term of four years, subject to Senate confirmation.

Mr. Olukoyede is a seasoned lawyer with over 22 years of experience as a regulatory compliance consultant and specialist in fraud management and corporate intelligence.

Notably, he possesses extensive experience in the operations of 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. These qualifications align with the statutory requirements for appointment as the Chairman of the EFCC.

This appointment follows the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.

In addition to Mr. Olukoyede’s appointment, President Tinubu has also approved Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda as the Secretary of the EFCC. Mr. Hammajoda’s appointment is for a renewable term of five years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation. He is a public administrator with extensive experience in public finance management, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri and a Masters in Business Administration from the same institution. Mr. Hammajoda’s career journey includes roles as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, as well as in the banking sector, where he had successful tenures at the defunct Allied Bank and Standard Trust Bank.

President Bola Tinubu has charged the newly appointed leadership of the EFCC with the task of justifying the confidence placed in them, as they undertake the crucial mission of combating corruption. The appointment of this new leadership signifies a revitalized effort in the fight against corruption, in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.