Ayo Olowonihi, director demoted by Magu, now head of EFCC academy

Ayo Olowonihi, a director at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been appointed as the commandant of the anti-graft agency’s academy in Karu, Abuja.

A statement by the commission said Olowonihi was appointed by Mohammed Abba, EFCC acting chairman.

Olowonihi was demoted from grade level 17 to grade level 16 in 2016 by Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting EFCC chairman, for allegedly being behind some ”damning online publications on the activities of the commission and against the person of the chairman”.

Olowonihi instituted a suit at the national industrial court to challenge his demotion and he won the case in a judgment delivered by the court on February 26, 2019.

But Magu filed an appeal at the court of appeal to challenge the ruling of the industrial court. The appeal of court in its judgment of August 2020, affirmed the ruling of the lower court.

This was the period the suspended EFCC acting chairman was being probed over allegations of corruption by Ayo Salami-led panel.

Olowonihi takes over from Itam Obono who headed the academy as a deputy commissioner of police.

“The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mohammed Umar Abba has appointed Detective Commander Ayo Peter Olowonihi as Commandant, EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja,” the EFCC said.

“Olowonihi takes over from Itam Nnaghe Obono, a Deputy Commissioner of Police.

“The appointment which is with immediate effect was consummated with a hand-over ceremony today, Monday, January 18, 2021, attended by both Olowonihi and Obono with heads of departments and units of the Academy in attendance.”