In accordance with the authority vested in President Bola Tinubu, as delineated in section 2 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act of 2004, which states that “the Chairman and members of the Commission, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed by the President,” President Tinubu has announced the appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede as the new Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Chief Ajuri Ngelale, this appointment is for an initial renewable term of four years, pending confirmation by the Senate.
Mr. Ola Olukoyede brings to this prestigious role an extensive professional background, boasting over twenty-two years of experience as a regulatory compliance consultant and a specialist in fraud management and corporate intelligence. Notably, he possesses a profound understanding of the operational intricacies of the EFCC, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman from 2016 to 2018 and as the Secretary to the Commission from 2018 to 2023. His appointment aligns seamlessly with the statutory prerequisites for the Chairmanship of the EFCC.
This announcement follows the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.
In addition to Mr. Olukoyede’s appointment, President Bola Tinubu has authorized the appointment of Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Mr. Hammajoda’s tenure is set for a renewable term of five years, pending Senate confirmation.
Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda is a seasoned public administrator with substantial expertise in public finance management. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri, and he furthered his education with a Master’s in Business Administration from the same institution. His professional journey commenced as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, and later extended into the banking sector, marked by successful tenures at the defunct Allied Bank and Standard Trust Bank.
President Bola Tinubu has conveyed his profound confidence in the capabilities of the new leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He has urged them to uphold the trust reposed in them and to execute their vital national responsibilities with diligence and determination. This appointment coincides with a renewed emphasis on combating corruption through a restructured institutional framework within the anti-corruption sector, which remains a pivotal element of the President’s Renewed Hope agenda.
The appointments of Mr. Ola Olukoyede as the Executive Chairman and Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are emblematic of President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s resolve in the fight against financial crimes and corruption. These appointments are driven by the aspiration to elevate and maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the EFCC as a cornerstone in the pursuit of justice and accountability within the Nigerian society.
