Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has expressed concerns over the appointments of chairmen for two of Nigeria's major anti-graft federal agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), from the same geopolitical zone. Falana, who appeared on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily program, stated that such appointments go against the federal character principle, which requires appointments to reflect a fair distribution among various regions in Nigeria.
He emphasized that if one agency's chairman is from the northern region, the other agency's chairman should come from the southern region to maintain a balance.
Mr. Falana spoke in support of Mr. Ola Olukoyede, the recently appointed EFCC chairman, stating that Olukoyede is "eminently qualified" for the position based on his experience and previous roles in the agency. Both Mr. Olukoyede and ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN), are from the South-West geopolitical zone. President Bola Tinubu appointed Olukoyede as the new EFCC boss for a renewable term of four years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.
While some have criticized Olukoyede's appointment, claiming he does not meet the necessary qualifications, Falana argued that his qualifications and experience make him a suitable candidate for the role. However, he also stressed the importance of adhering to the principles of federal character in such appointments
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