EFCC And ICPC Chairman Appointments Didn’t Reflect Federal Character Principle – Femi Falana

Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana has come out to say that the appointment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission chairmen from the same geopolitical zone is unlawful and against the Federal Character Principle.

He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, the fact is that, if the chairman of the EFCC is from the northern region, then the chairman of the ICPC should be appointed from the southern region.

He added that going by the virtue of Section 14 of the constitution, appointments must reflect Federal Character Principle.

His words, “There is no issue; the only issue that has been raised has to be considered by the government is that we have in this country, the Federal Character Commission Act and also by the virtue of Section 14 of the constitution, appointments must reflect Federal Character.

If you are going to have the EFCC and the ICPC, the heads cannot come from same zone. If there are two positions in the public service, one must go to the North, and one must go to the South. If there are four, two must go to the South, and two must go to the North. If there are six, one must go to each geopolitical zone. That is the law in Nigeria today.

So, I am not comfortable with the fact that the heads of the EFCC and the ICPC are from the same zone. Apart from that, Mr Ola Olukoyede is eminently qualified to head the EFCC. My colleagues who have criticised the appointment have not looked at the relevant provisions of the EFCC which is Section 2”