President Bola Tinubu is likely to designate Olanipekun Olukoyede as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Olukoyede, a lawyer, worked as the EFCC’s secretary for two years under former acting head Ibrahim Magu.
He was suspended from office, along with Magu, in 2020 and has not been reinstated.
Olukoyede was Magu’s chief of staff before to becoming secretary.
His appointment, which requires Senate confirmation, is anticipated to be announced “very soon,” according to sources familiar with the situation.
Olukoyede’s nomination is reported to be contentious because he has no background in law enforcement or inquiry. He is also considered as being too close to Magu, who was himself a contentious figure.
Premium Times claims that Olukoyede’s supporters claim he is a licensed lawyer with experience in compliance management, business intelligence, and fraud management. He is also stated to be a certified fraud examiner.
If the Senate confirms his nomination, Olukoyede will be the first Nigerian from the South to chair the EFCC.
However, there are fears that Mr Olukoyede may not be qualified for the position. There are statutory prerequisites for the appointment of the EFCC boss, which Mr Olukoyede may not meet.
According to Section 2(3) of the EFCC Act of 2005, a chairman of the commission “must be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent; possess not less than 15 years experience.”