Olukayode's appointment comes nearly four months after he suspended the embattled Chairman of the agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
Human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, has vowed to challenge President Bola Tinubu's appointment of Ola Olukayode as the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
President Tinubu on Thursday approved the appointment of Olukayode as the anti-graft agency's Chairman for a renewable term of four years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.
Olukayode's appointment comes nearly four months after he suspended the embattled Chairman of the agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
In his reaction, Ogun vowed to challenge the appointment in court, saying that Nigerians must not allow lawlessness and impunity to reign supreme in the country.
The lawyer who said that "Nigeria is in peculiar mess" and that "an illegitimate government would surely have an issue with law” described Olukayode's appointment as illegal and unconstitutional.
He said, "I will challenge the illegal appointment of Mr Ola Olukoyede as EFCC Chairman in court in the coming weeks.
I will challenge the illegal appointment of Mr Ola Olukoyede as EFCC Chairman in court in the coming weeks. We must not allow lawlessness and impunity to reign supreme in this country.
— FESTUS OGUN (@mrfestusogun) October 12, 2023
"We must not allow lawlessness and impunity to reign supreme in this country. "Tinubu’s appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is illegal and unconstitutional. "Mr Olukoyede’s appointment clearly contravenes Section 2(1)(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004. He is not qualified.
Tinubu’s appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is illegal and unconstitutional. Mr Olukoyede’s appointment clearly contravenes Section 2(1)(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004. He is not qualified. — FESTUS OGUN (@mrfestusogun) October 12, 2023
"Section 2(1)(a) of the Act provides that a person appointed as Chairman of EFCC shall be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of ACP or equivalent; and must possess not less than 15 years cognate experience.
"Mr Olukoyede is not a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency even though he was Ibrahim Magu’s Chief of Staff between 2016 and 2018. He has not ‘retired’ and is not a serving member of any security or law enforcement agency."
Ogun said that Olukoyede does not possess 15 years cognate experience in any security or law enforcement agency as required by the EFCC Act.
"What is more? He is disqualified for appointment and ought not to have been appointed by the President. The appointment should be withdrawn immediately.
"An illegitimate government would surely have an issue with law. Nigeria is in peculiar mess," he added.