President Tinubu will not yield to pressure on him to remove EFCC chairman- Source
Despite the pressure on him, President Bola Tinubu will not remove the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, who he believes is doing a good job of fighting corruption, WESTERN POST can reveal today.
This is against the backdrop of desperate moves by some influential politicians to thwart Olukoyede’s decision to dust up the files on allegations of corruption against them.
A few high-profile current and former public officeholders with allegations of financial improprieties against them have reportedly made moves to get the EFCC chair removed from office.
But President Tinubu who has held tenaciously to his campaign promise of zero tolerance for corruption is said to have turned deaf ears to such plans.
Instead, the President was said to have directed that the Olukoyede-led anti-graft agency build on achievements recorded and effectively tackle corruption particularly as it affects Nigeria’s image.
it was learnt that despite the calls for Olukoyede’s removal, his traducers have no strong case before the President to justify their demand for the EFCC boss’ sack.
The highly placed source said those against the EFCC boss had earlier approached the court for his removal without success.
“Olukoyede is qualified to occupy his current office having served as secretary of the commission, a Grade Level 17 position.
“Why will the President remove the anti-graft commission boss who is committed to ensuring that his grand plans for a better Nigeria are achieved?,” the source queried, adding that the former Lagos governor was committed to seeing Olukoyede succeed in his job.
“The pointer to this is the fact that Mr. President has never interfered in the commission’s activities since he (Olukoyede) assumed office. So, it’s not in the plan of the President to remove the EFCC chair.
“Though there are plans to rejig his cabinet but the EFCC chairman is not likely to be affected. The President is solidly behind the commission’s activities and wouldn’t interfere in its business”, said the source, who does not want to be mentioned because he wasn’t authorised to speak on the matter.
“Politicians should forget the EFCC chairman’s removal, that isn’t going to happen. He is diligent about his job and walking his talk and that is why you see corruption fighting back.
“So, the noise from hordes of paid emergency lovers of democracy seeking the removal of Olukoyede won’t materialise. The President is committed to ensuring politicians and appointees who looted the treasury account for their actions. That is why he didn’t interfere and has allowed the anti-graft agency to work despite former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello being in the same party as Mr President”, the source added.
Recall that Olukoyede, through a recent press release by the agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, reiterated his commitment to ensuring political bigwigs have their days in court to account for several corruption cases hanging on their necks.
In June 2024, Olukoyede during a courtesy visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, confirmed that Tinubu gave him full power to deal with criminals and those who had dipped their hands into the public treasury, thereby impeding the pace of development in the country.
“Since I was appointed the Chairman of the EFCC, the President has never called me to stop, impose, dictate, or prescribe any directive as regards the affairs or activities of the commission, rather the anti-graft agency has so far enjoyed adequate support needed from the Federal Government towards achieving the mandate of the commission,” Olukoyede had said.
