Human Right Activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent appointment of CEOs and DG of Agencies.
Falana holds the view that both the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and that of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are from the same geopolitical zones, which is the South west and it is against the federal character Commission Act.
Speaking in a live video on Channels television today, October 16, the human Right activist no doubt agrees that the newly appointed EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, is ultimately qualified for the position, to lead the anti-graft commission having previously served in some high capacity in the agency as Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman (2016-2018) and Secretary to the Commission (2018-2023) as well as having 22 years cognate experience.
However, he believes that the ICPC chairman, should be from the North, seeing that the two federal agencies are anti-graft commission.
Falana said:
“There is no issue; the only issue that has been raised 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, 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.”
Recall that few days ago, the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appointed new chairpersons of various agencies, including EFCC, ICPC, NIPOST, who are awaiting senate approval.
Since the appointment, there has been critics form different angles about the EFCC chairman appointment.
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