There was drama and laughter in the Senate on Wednesday when Senate President Godswill Akpabio told the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, not to use him as an example in the anti-corruption fight.
Olukoyede, who appeared before the Senate for screening on Wednesday, had cited Senate President as an example in his presentation on investigating a graft case but was interrupted by the senators in the Chamber who burst into laughter.
“If we are investigating the Senate President for example…” Olukoyede said, prompting lawmakers to burst into laughter.
The laughter became louder when Akpabio told the EFCC nominee not to cite his name as an example in the investigation of a corruption case.
Akpabio said, “I’m very glad that the nominee wants to use the Senate President as an example. But Mr nominee, leave the Senate President for now, look at this direction (pointing at the seats of opposition lawmakers).”
Mr Olukoyede, after the loud laughter, continued his speech without mentioning anyone’s name, saying, “If you are fighting corruption, you become the enemy of everybody.”
Akpabio has a N108.1 billion alleged theft of funds case before the anti-graft agency.
The commission commenced an investigation of the former Akwa Ibom governor after a petition by an Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong.
The EFCC had detained Akpabio over alleged fraud, but he has consistently maintained innocence.
Meanwhile, the Senate has confirmed the appointment of Ola Olukoyede as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Red Chamber also confirmed the appointment of Muhammad Hammajoda as the secretary of the commission.
It would be recalled that there was some controversy around the nomination of Mr Olukoyede President Bola Tinubu.
Some analysts argued that he did not meet the requirements of the Act establishing the anti-corruption agency.
Section 2(3) of the EFCC Act states that the chairman of the commission “must be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent, and possess not less than 15 years experience.”
Mr Olukoyede, who is a lawyer, has no experience in any security or law enforcement.
The Presidency, however, insisted the 54-year-old Ekiti State indigene was qualified for the position.
In spite of the protest in some quarters, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the confirmation of Mr Olukoyede and Mr Hammajoda after they were cleared via a voice vote by senators at the plenary on Wednesday.
The previous day, the request of President Tinubu seeking the confirmation of Messrs Olukoyede as Chairman and Hammajoda as Secretary of EFCC was read by the senate president at the plenary and it was referred to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.
The two nominees appeared before and fielded questions from the senators at the Committee of the Whole on how they plan to make the anti-graft agency perform at an optimum level.
Mr Olukoyede’s appointment is coming barely four months after the erstwhile anti-graft agency chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, was suspended.
