In a significant move, President Bola Tinubu, exercising his authority as established in section 2 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, has made key appointments within the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The President has appointed Mr. Ola Olukoyede as the Executive Chairman of the EFCC and Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda as the Secretary of the Commission.
Mr. Ola Olukoyede, a seasoned lawyer with more than twenty-two years of experience in regulatory compliance consulting, as well as specialization in fraud management and corporate intelligence, has been nominated as the Executive Chairman of the EFCC. His appointment is for an initial term of four years, pending confirmation by the Senate. Notably, Mr. Olukoyede has a wealth of experience in the operations of the EFCC, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman from 2016 to 2018 and subsequently as the Secretary to the Commission from 2018 to 2023. The presidency believes that this extensive experience makes him well-suited for the role, fulfilling the statutory requirements for the position of Chairman.
Mr. Olukoyede’s appointment comes on the heels of the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.
Additionally, President Bola Tinubu has authorized the appointment of Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda to the position of Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Mr. Hammajoda, a seasoned public administrator with a strong background in public finance management, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri and a Masters in Business Administration from the same institution. His professional journey began as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, followed by a successful transition into the banking sector, with notable tenures at the defunct Allied Bank and Standard Trust Bank.
Ajuri Ngelale, aide to the president, stated that the appointment of these key figures aligns with the President’s commitment to fighting corruption through a reformed institutional framework within the anti-corruption sector, a central focus of his Renewed Hope agenda. The nation watches as these changes unfold, marking a new chapter in the ongoing battle against corruption in Nigeria.
