Tinubu Appoints New EFCC Chairman 4 Months After Bawa’s Departure 

By Adeke Chukwuka

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has named Ola Olukayode as the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On Thursday, October 12, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the appointment of Ola Olukayode as the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to a statement by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale on Thursday, the powers vested in President Tinubu as established in Section 2(3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, “the Chairman and members of the Commission, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed by the President.”

According to Ngelale, Olukoyede is a lawyer with more than 22 years of expertise as a regulatory compliance consultant with a focus on business intelligence and fraud management.

“He has extensive experience in the operations of the EFCC, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman (2016–2018) and Secretary to the Commission (2018-2023). As such, he fulfills the statutory requirement for appointment as Chairman of the EFCC.

“Olukoyede’s appointment follows the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa,” he said.

Additionally, Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda was appointed as the secretary of the commission. Olukayode’s appointment came four months after the suspension of AbdulRasheed Bawa, the former chairman of the anti-graft agency.

President Tinubu has appointed Muhammad Hassan as Secretary of the anti-graft Commission for a renewable five-year term, pending Senate confirmation. Hammajoda, a public administrator with extensive experience in public finance management, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration. The appointment is part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.