Senate moves to curb president's power to remove EFCC chair

A bill to reduce the president's power to terminate the appointment of the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday passed second reading in the Senate.

The bill titled “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) and Other Related Matters Amendment Act Bill 2022”, sponsored by Senate Minority Whip, Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu North), also requests the restriction of appointment to office by EFCC staff.

Senator Utazi, while leading the debate on the bill, said that in ensuring the security of the EFCC chairman's tenure, the Senate should approve the removal of any chairman in the line of fire of the EFCC. president, as he does during the nomination.< /p>

He said, "One of the highlights of this amendment is the issue of the tenure of the executive chairman of the commission.

"For other anti-corruption agencies established by the legislative instrument, before and after, i.e. the Independent Commission on Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses, the ICPC and the Nigerian Unit Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, the National Assembly ensured that the leadership had security of tenure by ensuring that their appointments and removals, if any, were subject to Senate confirmation.

“This was not the case with the EFCC. Therefore, in this proposed amendment, it is intended to bring the EFCC in line with the other two government anti-corruption agencies. by the commission of the very important mandate entrusted to it.”

Senator Utazi added that the other strand of the amendment, although it has already been taken up by President Muhammadu Buhari with the appointment of Abdulrasheed Bawa as EFCC Chairman in February last year, required the law to restrict this appointment to EFCC staff as being sought by the bill.

"As a new commission, it was understandable that its leadership was appointed from outside the commission, for obvious reasons.

“However, the turning point for the commission came when this administration, which has the fight against corruption as its mantra, took the pioneering and daring step of turning inward, within the commission to appoint the first executive chairman of the Economic Council and Financial Crimes Commission at its head.

"It is very commendable and President Muhammadu Buhari has engraved his name and his administration in gold by this very singular action, and posterity will never forget it.

“All that is required of this Parliament is to approve this executive action by amending the law establishing the EFCC to prevent untrained EFCC staff from being at the head of the committee in the future. This will enhance professionalism in the service of this anti-corruption agency,” he stressed.

Many senators, who contributed to the debate, supported the argument of seeking Senate approval before the president terminates the appointment of any EFCC chair, but differed on the restriction of the appointment of the chairman of the commission to insiders.

In his remarks after the second reading of the bill, Senate Speaker Dr. Ahmad Lawan said that restricting the appointment of the EFCC chairman to insiders is a very good decision, but that the proposed law must clearly state that the position is political and not civilian service which will require the highest ranking officer to assume the office of President.

The bill was therefore referred to the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes for further legislative input within four weeks.