Mohammed Shosanya
The Centre for Democracy and Human Rights(CEDEHUR),Tuesday,embarked on a protest at the gate of the National Assembly in Abuja,urging members of the Senate not to confirm the appointment of the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede.
Adebayo Ogorry, National Secretary of CEDEHUR,told newsmen that the civil society group had earlier submitted a letter of protest to the Office of the Senate President on the issue of not treading on the path of illegality through the confirmation of Olukoyede by the Senate.
Ogorry, who said that the appointment was a gross violation of the extant laws, which is the Establishment Act 2004 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), added that the new EFCC is not qualified to occupy such office.
He said in a letter addressed to the Senate President that: “The action of President Bola Tinubu in making the appointment of Mr Olukoyede into such a high office with enormous responsibility as the Chairman of the EFCC in fragrant breach of the provisions of the laws of the parliament is contrary to the oath he took on May 29, 2023 to protect and defend the laws of the nation.
“It is important to note that the EFCC Extant laws remain sacrosanct and needed to be strictly adhered to, before going ahead to appoint a chairman for the Commission.
“President Tinubu as the number one citizen, whose office is the creation of the law, needs to comply with the EFCC Extant Laws and not be seen to set a wrong precedence for successive administrations in making his appointment, which can slip the country into a state of anarchy.
“In our quest to see that the right thing is done, we have made our findings on “Who qualifies to be the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission?
“According to the extant provision of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004: (1) The Commission shall consist of the following members-(a)A chairman, who shall- (i) be the Chief Executive and Accounting officer of the Commission, (ii) 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 (iii) Possess not less than 15 years cognate experience.”
Ogorry, maintained that the new Chairman of EFCC does not meet these criteria or requirements spelt out by EFCC Act.
He added:”Mr Senate President, the provision above is very clear and unambiguous. The functions of the EFCC are not civil in nature.
“Hence it is a paramilitary organisation. That is the rationale behind the inclusion of the police ranking system and its equivalent in other law requisites for attaining the position of the Executive Chairman.
“Secondly, the person ought to be appointed must not only be a member of the law enforcement family, he must also have 15 years cognate experience.
“In other words, the person must have the knowledge, skills and abilities in the professional law enforcement activity.
“Any appointment that is contrary to the provisions of the Extant EFCC Establishment Act is an assault on the National Assembly,which is the constitutional organ responsible for making laws.
“If the Executive is uncomfortable with a provision, the appropriate action will be to beckon on the National Assembly to amend or repeal such provisions. To let such infractions slide is a call to anarchy.”
He urged the Senate President and the entire Senate to use their good offices to properly scrutinise the appointment of the new EFCC Chairman as well as “stop the flagrant disregard and breach of the provisions of the extant laws of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004.”