Abuja was thrown into fresh political and legal turmoil on Tuesday as former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), released excerpts from the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry report, alleging that it indicts the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami said Chapter Nine of the Salami report allegedly exposes a clear conflict of interest involving the EFCC chairman, raising serious questions about his continued role in matters connected to the findings of the inquiry.
According to Malami, the contents of the report make Olukoyede’s ongoing involvement in such issues “untenable,” insisting that ethical standards and public confidence in the anti-graft agency are at stake.
“The report clearly establishes circumstances that amount to a conflict of interest,” Malami stated, adding that the situation undermines the integrity expected of the leadership of Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption body.
The former justice minister further argued that, based on the excerpts released, Olukoyede should step aside to allow for transparency and credibility in the handling of issues arising from the Salami panel’s findings. He claimed that failure to do so could weaken public trust in the EFCC and its anti-corruption mandate.
Malami’s statement went further to question the competence and credibility of the EFCC chairman to continue steering the commission, a claim that is already stirring intense reactions within political and legal circles.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC and its chairman had not issued an official response to the allegations. Observers say the development may reignite debates over accountability, institutional integrity, and the long-running controversies surrounding past judicial inquiries.
With the release of the report excerpts now in the public domain, pressure is expected to mount on the Presidency and relevant oversight bodies to review the claims and determine the next line of action.
The unfolding drama sets the stage for what could become another high-profile confrontation in Nigeria’s anti-corruption landscape, as all eyes turn to the EFCC for its response.
Source:@ADCVanguard
,){kind=link}