President Bola Tinubu has officially appointed Mr. Ola Olukoyede as the new Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This appointment, renewable for a term of four years in the first instance, is subject to Senate confirmation. The decision follows the suspension of the previous EFCC chief, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, nearly four months ago.
According to a statement issued by the President's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Mr. Olukoyede's appointment coincides with the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa. The statement, titled 'President Tinubu Appoints New EFCC Chairman and Secretary of the Commission,' was released today.
Ola Olukoyede brings over 22 years of legal expertise as a regulatory compliance consultant and a specialist in fraud management and corporate intelligence. His past experience within the EFCC includes serving as the Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman from 2016 to 2018, and subsequently as the Secretary to the Commission from 2018 to 2023. These roles make him a fitting candidate for the position of EFCC Chairman as per the statutory requirements.
In addition to the Chairman's appointment, President Tinubu has also sanctioned the appointment of Mr. Muhammad Hammajoda as the Secretary of the EFCC. This appointment is renewable for a term of five years, pending Senate confirmation. Hammajoda is a public administrator with extensive experience in public finance management, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri, along with a Masters in Business Administration from the same institution.
Hammajoda's career has encompassed roles as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, and successful stints in the banking sector, including positions at the defunct Allied Bank and Standard Trust Bank.
President Tinubu has emphasized the importance of this new leadership, charging them to uphold the confidence placed in them for this vital national mission. As part of the President's Renewed Hope agenda, this appointment marks a significant step towards reinvigorating the fight against corruption through a reformed institutional framework within the anti-corruption sector.
