‘I welcome your initiatives’ — FBI rep lauds Olukoyede’s appointment as EFCC chair

Jack Smith, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) legal attache in Nigeria, has hailed the appointment of Ola Olukoyede as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the EFCC said Smith lauded the appointment during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Smith said he studied Olukoyede’s history and credentials and found that he has impressive attributes to lead the anti-graft agency. 

“I came to congratulate you on your appointment. I did my homework and research and I discovered that your appointment is right,” Smith was quoted as saying.

“I welcome the direction you are taking the Commission, the rebranding and other positive initiatives are good.”

In his remarks, Olukoyede thanked Smith for the visit, saying his reform agenda for the agency “represents more effective ways of achieving the mandate of the EFCC”.

“It is important we properly define the focus of the anti-corruption work that we are doing,” he said.

The EFCC chairman explained that the commission is interested in getting results the right way.

“Yes, we will get results but we are concerned about how results are obtained,” he said.

“We are concerned about the youth of our nation and the need to put them in the right direction.

“Yes, there are some factors affecting them that are beyond our control but we will ensure that those factors are taken care of by the necessary stakeholders.”

The EFCC chairman pledged to enhance the relationship between the EFCC and FBI, adding that the two agencies are partners in progress.

President Bola Tinubu nominated Olukoyede as EFCC chairman on October 12. Seven days later, the senate confirmed his appointment.

However, there is a legal battle over Olukoyede’s eligibility to lead the EFCC.

Critics argued that since Olukoyede was not a member of any security outfit, he was not legally qualified to lead the anti-graft agency.

A federal high court in Abuja is scheduled to hear the suit challenging Olukoyede’s appointment in February.