Senate suspends confirmation of EFCC Secretary

The Senate on Tuesday suspended the confirmation of Olanipkekun
Olukoyede as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).

The decision to step down the confirmation came after a member
of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes,
Isa Misau (PDP, Bauchi Central) accused committee members of
preparing a report without the consent of others.

The Chairman of the Committee, Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu
North), read out the report of the committee where he stated that
Mr Olukoyede possessed integrity and competence to perform the
duties for which he is nominated.

He also said the committee is satisfied with the nominee’s
qualification and experience; and thereafter, recommended that the
Senate confirm the nominee.

After the presentation, Mr Misau complained that only three of
eight members signed the Endorsement Page of the report.

“Let’s step down this report so that we, the members of the
committee can go through it. Because I participated actively in the
screening of these nominees and there are some of them that are not
competent to hold that office.

“I’m just seeing this report. It has not been sent to my office
and I was part of the screening and during the screening, I made
objections on certain people that are not supposed to hold that
office to be screened. It is necessary for us to look at the
report,” he said.

In his defence, Mr Utazi explained that most of the committee
members are busy with oversight.

“Most of the committee members are busy with oversight. We wrote
every member to be in attendance. What Misau attended was the ICPC
screening. He attended and participated but he did not attend this
one.

“We gave the notice to everybody to attend; and at the end of
the day, the number of people who attended, formed quorum and took
the decision on behalf of the committee (signed),” he said as he
urged the Senate to accept the report as presented.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, then asked the committee
chairman to meet with his members later today, conclude and
re-present the report tomorrow.

Mr Olukoyede, who is the current Chief of Staff to the acting
Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, was nominated as secretary to the
commission by President Muhammadu Buhari, in a letter dated
September 10, 2018.

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