EFCC chair says Anti-graft war should begin from NASS
The Senate on Wednesday approved Ola Olukoyede’s nomination to serve as the substantive Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s chairman.
As he answered questions from the senators during his screening, Olukoyode advised them to ensure that the National Assembly is where the fight against corruption starts.
He said that it didn’t matter whose ox was gored; he was ready to labor.
“Let the fight against corruption begin from this hallowed chamber.
“If you are fighting corruption, you become the enemy of everybody,” he said.
Olukoyede said the time had come for all anti-corruption agencies to focus more on prevention rather than enforcement.
The new EFCC chairman also called on the judiciary to place substantive justice above technicalities when dealing with corruption cases.
He said there was a connection between the country’s low living standard and the rise of corruption.
The EFCC chairman noted that Nigeria lost a total of N2.9tn to procurement fraud in three years.
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According to him, he did a survey between 2018 and 2020 on 50 entities in Nigeria; both human and corporate entities.
Meanwhile, the Senate erupted in laughter when the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, told Olukoyede not to use him as an example in the anti-corruption fight.
Olukoyede had while speaking said, “If we are investigating the Senate President for example…”
But Akpabio said, “I’m very glad that the nominee wants to use the Senate President as an example. But Mr nominee, leaves the Senate President for now, look at this direction (pointing at the seats of opposition lawmakers).”
Apart from Olukoyede, the Senate also confirmed Muhammad Hammajoda as the Secretary of the EFCC.
Similarly, the Senate confirmed Halima Shehu as the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme.
