Budget Allocation Probe: Reps Frown At EFCC Chairman Attitude, Issue 4-day Ultimatum to Honour Invitation
The House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes has given the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, a 4-day ultimatum to appear before it.
The committee is investigating budgetary allocation issues and has demanded that Olukoyede and his management team appear to answer questions relating to the commission’s budget performance and challenges.
Rep. Obinna Onwusibe, the chairman of the committee, expressed the panelโs displeasure at an oversight of the commissionโs office in Abuja.
The committee condemned what it described as the snobbish attitude of the chairman and the denial of the committeeโs members access into the commissionโs complex.
Following the denial of access into the commissionโs complex, the committee members headed back to their bus and returned to the National Assembly.
The committee had visited the EFCC headquarters after communicating with the anti-graft agency and agreeing on a date for an oversight visit.
The committee was, however, surprisingly told that the chairman was called for an unexplained emergency development at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Reacting, the committee chairman said: โIn performing our constitutional functions we had written to the EFCC for this oversight visit.
โThe latest letter to EFCC was last week and we all agreed that the oversight is going to be today.
โThe essence of the oversight is for the committee to know the budget performance of the EFCC as appropriated by this National Assembly.
โThat was exactly why we went and to also see other things, including the challenges being faced by the EFCC.โ
He said the committee had requested that the chairman, and all the zonal commanders of the EFCC be invited today for us to interface with them.
โBut, the committee also saw that they were not on ground,โ he said.
The committee, however, resolved that it would not continue with the oversight and resolved further to summon the EFCC chairman and his team to appear before it.
The comittee therefore gave the EFCC chairman till July 30 to appear before it.
โAs far as weโre concerned, the functions and integrity of this 10th National Assembly cannot be taken for granted.
โWeโve written severally to the commission, requesting information and documents and are yet to get them,โ he said.
