From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja

Subsequent Bosses of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) shall henceforth be only persons of at least an apex court Judge i.e High Court, serving or retired personnel of any Government Law Enforcement or Anti-corruption Agency not below the rank of “Commissioner of Police or Director”as the case may be,a Senate bill which passed first reading stated on Thursday.



The proposed amendment of the EFCC Act of June 2004 sponsored by Senator Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) was presented at the Senate Plenary presided by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.



The bill stipulates that only very experienced people who have passed through the ranks and have attained to almost the zenith of the above levels in the Judiciary and Law enforcement agencies as stated above will be eligible to become Chairman of the Anti-corruption agency.



Nwoye’s Bill also seeks to alter the current provisions of the EFCC Act 2004, particularly Section 2(3), which outlines the qualifications for the EFCC chairman. Specifically this section stipulates that the EFCC chairman must be a “serving or retired member of a government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of “Assistant Commissioner of Police” or equivalent, with a minimum of 15 years of experience.



However, if the bill scales through successive legislative inputs and is eventually signed into law a serving or retired person of any Government Law Enforcement agency within the rank of an “Assistant Commissioner of Police” or equivalent will no longer be eligible to head the EFCC.



Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, introduced the bill during plenary followed by the reading of its abridged title by the Senate Clerk, Barrister Chinedu Akubueze after which it was adopted by the Senate.


As proposed the bill seeks to amend Section 2 subsection 1 paragraph (a)(ii) and Section 2 subsection 1 paragraph (a)(ii) of the Principal Act of the EFCC Act of June 2004 Cap E1 Vol.5 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The amendments in the draft Copy of the bill sighted by the Sun correspondent reads; “Section 2 subsection 1 paragraph (a)(ii) of the Principal Act is amended by stating “a Chairman of the Commission shall be a serving or former member of any Government Law Enforcement or Anti-corruption Agency not below the rank of Commissioner of Police or Director as the case may be”.

“Section 2 subsection 1 paragraph (a)(ii) of the Principal Act is amended by stating “a Chairman of the Commission shall be a person who has held or qualified to hold the office as a judge of a superior court of record in Nigeria with cognate experience.

Nwoye also explained in his bill that the position of the Chairman of the Commission who doubles as Chief Executive and Accounting Officer is critical for the overall performance of the Commission hence the need for appointment of men and women of proven integrity and cognate experience. He stressed that the legal process will further enhance the fight against Corruption and Financial Crimes.



This latest development is sequel to the public reaction over the recent appointment of Ola Olukoyede as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which has ignited a legal debate.

Questions have been raised if Olukoyede’s appointment complied with the provisions of the EFCC Act 2004, particularly Section 2(3), which outlines the qualifications for the EFCC chairman. While some agreed that Olukoyede’s appointment is in order others have averred that his appointment violated the provisions of the EFCC Act.

https://sunnewsonline.com/henceforth-efcc-bosses-shall-be-at-least-a-superior-court-judge-police-commissioner-senate-bill/

Akpabio Akpabio.Impossicant!

Are you sure this will solve our problem ?

Government should allow EFCC staff to rise to the pinnacle instead of appointing police. Police are terrible in handling economic crimes.