A dramatic episode unfolded in the Senate during the confirmation hearing for Mr. Ola Olukoyede, who was nominated to be the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During his presentation, Olukoyede mentioned the Senate President as an example in the context of investigating a corruption case. However, his statement was met with unexpected reactions from the lawmakers in the chamber.
As Olukoyede began, “If we are investigating the Senate President, for example…” he said, which led to a burst of laughter among the legislators.
The laughter intensified when Senator Godswill Akpabio intervened, urging the EFCC Chairman-nominee not to use his name as an example in a corruption investigation. Akpabio humorously redirected Olukoyede’s attention by saying, “I’m pleased that the nominee wants to use the Senate President as an example. But, Mr. nominee, let’s steer clear of the Senate President for now and focus on this direction,” as he pointed toward the seats of opposition lawmakers.
Amidst the laughter, Olukoyede continued his speech without mentioning any specific names, emphasizing that “If you are fighting corruption, you become the enemy of everybody.”
It’s worth noting that Akpabio is currently facing a corruption case involving an alleged misappropriation of N108.1 billion, initiated following a petition by Leo Ekpenyong, an Abuja-based lawyer and activist. The EFCC had detained Akpabio on charges of fraud, but he maintains his innocence. The current status of the case remains uncertain.
