Amidst controversy, Senate confirms Buhari’s nominee for EFCC secretary

Posted by Admin | 5 years ago | 1,823 times



The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Olanipekun Olukoyede as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr Olukoyede, who is the current Chief of Staff to the acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, was nominated as secretary to the commission by President Muhammadu Buhari, in a letter dated September 10, 2018.

The Senate had on Tuesday suspended Mr Olukoyede’s confirmation.

It resolved to stand down his confirmation after a member of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Isa Misau (PDP, Bauchi Central) accused some committee members of preparing a report without the consent of others.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, then directed the chairman and members of the committee to meet and deliberate on the issue and re-present the report today.

Mr Misau had also complained that only three of eight members of the committee signed the Endorsement Page of the report.

The lawmakers, however, confirmed the EFCC secretary amidst altercations between the chairman of the committee, Chukwuka Utazi, and some other members.

Prior to the confirmation, Mr Misau raised a point of order accusing Mr Utazi of disobeying the resolution made by the Senate on Tuesday. He said he and other members were still not invited to any meeting.

“There was a resolution of the Senate yesterday on the committee to sit down and look at the report so it can be considered today. I am a member of the committee. Senators Dino, Matthew, Monsurat, Mustapha are members of this committee. All of us are waiting to be called to deliberate on this report and we know that there are so many petitions concerning this nominee and this nominee is going to hold a very sensitive office in the EFCC.

“I think it not right for us to just do a shortcut in screening this individual. The rights of the committee members should be considered. If there is any petition against this man, let us look at it. The normal procedure is for the clerk to send a letter of invitation. I don’t know what the interest is.

 


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