The selection of the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has been criticised by Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.
Falana said on Channels TV on Monday that choosing the two chairmen from the South West geopolitical zone violated the Federal Character principle.
Anaedoonline.ng remembers that President Bola Tinubu selected Ola Olukoyede as the new EFCC Chairman on Thursday last week.
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Olukoyede is from the South West, as is the Chairman of the ICPC, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN), who was chosen by the former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
In response to the controversy surrounding Olukoyede’s appointment, Falana stated that he is not pleased with the outcome.
He did, however, assert that the new EFCC Chairman is qualified to lead the organisation.
He said, “There is no issue; the only issue that has been raised that 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.
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“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, two must go to the North. If there are six, one must go to each geopolitical zone. That is the law in Nigeria today.
“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 Ola 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.”
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