President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given his approval for the appointment of Ola Olukoyede as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This announcement was made by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja.
According to Ngelale, President Tinubu appointed Olukoyede for an initial four-year term, which is renewable, pending confirmation by the Senate. This appointment is made in accordance with the authority granted to President Tinubu as outlined in Section 2 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.
Ngelale further highlighted Olukoyede’s extensive legal experience, with over 22 years as a regulatory compliance consultant and specialist in fraud management and corporate intelligence. Olukoyede had previously served as the Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman between 2016 and 2018 and as the Secretary to the Commission from 2018 to 2023.
In Ngelale’s words, “Mr. Olukoyede’s appointment follows the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.”
Furthermore, President Tinubu has also approved the appointment of Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda as the EFCC Secretary. This appointment is initially for five years and is subject to Senate confirmation.
Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda is a public administrator with extensive experience in public finance management. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri and a Masters in Business Administration from the same university. He started his career as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, and later gained experience in the banking sector, including roles at the defunct Allied Bank and Standard Trust Bank.
President Tinubu has tasked the new leadership of the EFCC with the responsibility of justifying the confidence placed in them for this vital national assignment. The fight against corruption remains a central focus of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, and he believes that this newly invigorated approach to combating corruption will contribute significantly to this goal.