Reps panel invites EFCC chair over commission’s budget performance

The house of representatives committee on financial crimes has asked Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to appear before it on or before July 30 over budgetary allocation issues.

Obinna Onwusibe, chair of the committee, issued the notice after an oversight function at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. 

Onwusibe expressed displeasure over Olukoyede’s absence despite formal notification of the oversight.

NAN also reports that the committee members were denied access to the commission’s complex.

An official of the commission had informed the lawmakers that the EFCC chair was summoned to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) but no further details were provided.

Reacting, the committee chairman said: “In performing our constitutional functions, we had written to the EFCC for this oversight visit.

“The latest letter to EFCC was last week and we all agreed that the oversight is going to be today.

“The purpose was to review EFCC’s budget performance as appropriated by the National Assembly and to assess other matters, including their challenges.

“To our surprise, we found only subordinate staff present, not the chairman or the zonal commanders we requested.

“The committee decided to suspend the oversight and has resolved to summon the EFCC Chairman and his team to appear before us by next Tuesday. He will receive an official letter inviting him to face the committee.

“The integrity and functions of the 10th National Assembly are paramount to us. We have repeatedly requested information and documents from the commission without adequate response, a matter I intended to address today.

“We expect EFCC to comply and appear before us on Tuesday for further discussions.”