Senate on Tuesday stepped down the confirmation of Olanikpekun Olukoyede as secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Senate suspended the nominee’s confirmation following a complaint by a member of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Isa Misau (PDP, Bauchi State) that the committee did not follow due process in submitting its report.
Olukoyede, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominee for the position, is the current chief of staff to the acting chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.
Chairman of the Committee, Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu State), had read out the report of the committee where he stated that the nominee possessed integrity and competence to perform the duties for which he was nominated.
He also said the committee was satisfied with the nominee’s qualification and experience, and thereafter, recommended that the Senate confirm him.
After the presentation, Misau observed that only three of eight members signed the Endorsement Page of the report.
“Let us step down this report so that we, the members of the committee can go through it. Because I participated actively in the screening of these nominees and there are some of them that are not competent to hold that office.
“I am just seeing this report. It has not been sent to my office and I was part of the screening and during the screening, I made objections on certain people that are not supposed to hold that office to be screened. It is necessary for us to look at the report,” he said.
In his defence, Utazi explained that most of the committee members were busy with oversight.
“Most of the committee members are busy with oversight. We wrote every member to be in attendance. What Misau attended was the ICPC screening. He attended and participated but he did not attend this one.
“We gave the notice to everybody to attend; and at the end of the day, the number of people who attended, formed quorum and took the decision on behalf of the committee (signed),” he said as he urged the Senate to accept the report as presented.
Ruling on the matter, Senate president, Bukola Saraki, asked the committee chairman to meet with his members later, conclude and re-present the report on Wednesday.
