Tinubu Appoints New EFCC Chairman

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ola Olukoyede as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This announcement was made by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement on Thursday.

Olukoyede’s appointment is for a renewable term of four years in the first instance, subject to Senate confirmation.

The leadership of the country’s premier anti-graft agency has witnessed changes over the last few months since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.

On June 14, 2023, the President indefinitely suspended Abdulrasheed Bawa from his position as the head of the anti-graft agency. Bawa’s suspension was to allow for a thorough investigation into his conduct while in office, prompted by serious allegations of abuse of power.

In response, the President designated Abdulkarim Chukkol, the Director of Operations at the Commission, as the acting EFCC chair while the Department of State Services (DSS) took Bawa into custody.

With Ola Olukoyede’s appointment, he assumes the leadership of the commission.

The decision to appoint Olukoyede as the new EFCC boss was made by the President, based on the powers vested in him as established in section 2 (3) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.

Mr. Ola Olukoyede brings to the role over 22 years of experience as a lawyer specializing in regulatory compliance consultancy and expertise in fraud management and corporate intelligence. His extensive experience within the EFCC, where he previously served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman (2016-2018) and Secretary to the Commission (2018-2023), aligns with the statutory requirement for appointment as Chairman of the EFCC.