President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr. Ola Olukoyede as the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
In a statement released on Thursday by presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, it was emphasized that President Tinubu’s authority to make these appointments is derived from the provisions outlined in section 2 (3) of the 2004 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (Establishment) Act, which stipulates that the President has the power to appoint the Chairman and members of the Commission, excluding ex-officio members.
President Tinubu has named Mr. Ola Olukoyede as the new Executive Chairman of the EFCC and Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda as the Secretary of the commission.
Mr. Ola Olukoyede is an accomplished lawyer with a remarkable career spanning over 22 years as a regulatory compliance consultant, specializing in fraud management and corporate intelligence. His prior service at the EFCC includes roles as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman from 2016 to 2018, and later as Secretary to the Commission from 2018 to 2023. These experiences uniquely qualify him for the position of Chairman of the EFCC. He has been appointed for an initial renewable term of four years, pending Senate confirmation.
This appointment comes in the wake of the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.
Additionally, President Tinubu has selected Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda to serve as the Secretary of the EFCC for a renewable term of five years, subject to Senate confirmation. Mr. Hammajoda is a seasoned public administrator with a wealth of experience 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 journey began as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, and he later ventured into banking, with successful roles at the now-defunct Allied Bank and Standard Trust Bank.
These appointments signal a fresh direction for the EFCC under President Tinubu’s leadership, with a strong emphasis on an invigorated campaign against corruption through a reformed institutional structure within the anti-corruption sector. This commitment to combating corruption remains central to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
The new EFCC leadership is now tasked with upholding the President’s vision and justifying the confidence placed in them as they embark on this vital national assignment. The fight against corruption is expected to remain a focal point in Nigeria’s governance under this renewed leadership.
