Concerning budgetary allocation, the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes has called Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), to appear by July 30.
Olukoyede and his management team are required by the committee to respond to inquiries regarding the difficulties and budget performance of the EFCC.
The committee chairman, Rep. Obinna Onwusibe, voiced his displeasure during an oversight visit to the EFCC office in Abuja. He criticized Olukoyede’s “snobbish attitude” and the committee members’ inability to enter the EFCC complex.
The committee members returned to the National Assembly after being refused entry. The date of the visit had been scheduled in advance with the EFCC.
Unexpectedly, Olukoyede’s emergency at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was reported to the committee; the reason for the notification was not provided.
“In performing our constitutional functions, we had written to the EFCC for this oversight visit,” Onwusibe said, noting that the final letter was sent last week, confirming the oversight visit for that day.
The visit is objectives were to assess the EFCC’s budget performance as determined by the National Assembly and to pinpoint the agency’s operational difficulties.
Olukoyede and all zonal commanders were not present for the direct discussion that the committee had requested.
Due to the absence of the EFCC representatives, the committee decided to halt the oversight visit and summon Olukoyede and his team to appear before it.
“As far as we’re concerned, the functions and integrity of this 10th National Assembly cannot be taken for granted,” Onwusibe emphasised.
He concluded, “We’ve written several times to the commission requesting information and documents and are yet to receive them.”
