• By Halimah Olamide

An opposition element raises objection to President Bola Tinubu’s choice of a lawyer whom he said lacks the requisite criteria for the position of the chairman of the country’s anti-graft body, EFCC

A spokesman of the former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Daniel Bwala, has faulted President Bola Tinubu in his choice of Mr. Ola Olukoyede as the new chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Bwala’s condemnation of Tinubu’s choice came barely an hour after the presidency on Thursday announced the new EFCC boss who succeeds AbdulRasheed Bawa.

Bwala said the law setting the commission up is very clear on criteria to be considered before the choice of any chairman of the EFCC.

“The appointment of Olukayode as EFCC Chairman by PBAT is unlawful and illegal.” he said just as he listed other conditions for the appointment to be lawful.

He said Section 2 of the EFCC ACT which requires that the person to be appointed as EFCC Chairman must amongst other things have:

1. Been a serving or retired member of any security or law enforcement agency,

2. Must have 15 years cognate experience of law enforcement, and

3. Must not be below the rank of assistant commissioner of police.

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Bwala said, “Olukoyode is a private legal practitioner and has never worked or belong to any security or law enforcement agency as a member. He does not have 15 years cognate experience as a law enforcement officer and His private legal practice years cannot be equated to the rank in law enforcement.

“Not enough attending seminal courses as a private legal practitioner can equate to 15 years cognate experience contemplated by section 2 of the Act.”

The presidency, in a statement on Thursday announced the appointment of Olukoyede as the commission’s new chairman.