Falana criticises President Tinubu for appointing ICPC, EFCC chairs from same zone
Renowned human rights attorney, Mr. Femi Falana, has voiced his legal concerns regarding the appointments of the chairs of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from the same geopolitical zone.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made these statements during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Monday.
Falana’s argument centers around the Federal Character Principle, suggesting that the ICPC chairman should be selected from the southern region if the EFCC chairman hails from the north.
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“Currently, both Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye of the ICPC and Mr. Ola Olukoyede, the newly appointed chairman of the EFCC, come from the South-West geopolitical zone”.
The attorney criticized President Bola Tinubu for appointing Olukoyede, who shares the same South-West origin as the current ICPC chairman, emphasizing the need for appointments to reflect the Federal Character Commission Act and Section 14 of the constitution.
He stressed that “it is unacceptable for the heads of the EFCC and the ICPC to be from the same zone, calling for geographical diversity in such positions”.
Despite acknowledging Olukoyede’s qualifications, Falana expressed unease about both anti-graft agencies’ leaders originating from the South-West geopolitical zone. He highlighted the need to consider relevant provisions in the EFCC’s Section 2.
The appointment of Mr. Olukoyede as the new chairman of the EFCC by President Bola Tinubu on October 12, 2023, has generated controversy, coming after the contentious resignation of former chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa, who faced allegations of power abuse and was suspended following his arrest by the Department of State Services on June 14, 2023.
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