By Ayo Yusuf
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has described the appointment of the chairmen of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission from the same geopolitical zone as unlawful and against the Federal Character Principle.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria made the declaration during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday.
According to Falana, if the chairman of the EFCC is from the northern region, then the chairman of the ICPC should be appointed from the southern region.
The recently appointed chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede and the ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye are both from the South-West geopolitical zone.
Condemning President Tinubu’s recent appointment of Olukoyede who is also from the South-West just like the current ICPC chairman, Falana said, “There is no issue; the only issue that has been raised and has to be considered by the government is that we have in this country, the Federal Character Commission Act and also by the virtue of Section 14 of the constitution, appointments must reflect Federal Character.
If you are going to have the EFCC and the ICPC, the heads cannot come from the same zone. If there are two positions in the public service, one must go to the North, and one must go to the South. If there are four, two must go to the South, and two must go to the North.
If there are six, one must go to each geopolitical zone. That is the law in Nigeria today,” Falan stated.
He added that though Olukoyede is very much qualified to head the EFCC, he (Falana) is not comfortable with the fact that the heads of both anti-graft agencies are from the South-West geopolitical zone.
“So, I am not comfortable with the fact that the heads of the EFCC and the ICPC are from the same zone. Apart from that, Mr Olukoyede is eminently qualified to head the EFCC. My colleagues who have criticised the appointment have not looked at the relevant provisions of the EFCC which is Section 2”, he submitted.
Recall that on October 12, 2023, the President, Bola Tinubu appointed Olukoyede as the new EFCC chairman of the agency, amid complaints.
Olukoyede’s appointment followed the controversial resignation of embattled ex-EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who was suspended on June 14, 2023 and detained by the Department of State Services over allegations of abuse of office.
