JUST-IN: Tinubu Writes Akpabio-Led Senate Over EFCC Chairman

• The appointment of Abdulrasheed Bawa, the former anti-graft agency chief, came nearly four months after his suspension.
• The president confirmed that Yakubu’s appointment as senior special assistant on humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation created a vacancy within the agency

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday, October 17, asked the Senate to screen Ola Olukoyede and Muhammad Hammajoda as the chairman and secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), respectively.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter containing Tinubu’s request during plenary.

In the first instance, for a term of four years that is renewable, President Tinubu had authorised the nomination of Olukoyede as the executive chairman of the EFCC and Hammajoda as the commission’s secretary on Thursday, October 12. This approval was subject to Senate confirmation.

The appointment came nearly four months after the erstwhile anti-graft agency chief, Abdulrasheed Bawa was suspended.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale: “Mr. Olukayode’s appointment followed the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.”