BY Dyepkazah Shibayan
The red chamber erupted in laughter for a brief spell during plenary on Wednesday.
This came after Ola Olukoyede, the now confirmed chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), decided to use Senate President Godswill Akpabio to illustrate a point.
Olukoyede had appeared before the senate for screening as chair of the anti-graft agency.
The nominee was trying to say if an investigation is opened into a suspect, the EFCC would automatically become enemies of the suspect’s family and associates.
“For instance, if I have the opportunity tomorrow perhaps to investigate the distinguished president of the senate — ok let me use my senator, senator Adaramodu…,” Olukoyede said after checking himself.
At this point the senate devolved into raucous laughter for about a minute.
Responding, Akpabio said he noticed that some senators, especially those from the opposition, enjoyed that spell a bit too much.
“Distinguished senators, I noticed that my brothers on this side of the aisle (minority) are very excited that he used the senate president as an example,” Akpabio said.
“Distinguished nominee, look to this side and pick senator Aliero or anyone. Even senator Ningi. Leave the senate president for now.”
Olukoyede, who looked like he was suppressing his own laughter, continued: “The point I was trying to make is that if I go after someone, as an agency, when you open the investigation automatically you become an enemy of the person”.
He added that if citizens continue with that mindset, the country would not make progress in the war against graft.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Olukoyede and Muhammad Hammajoda as EFCC chair and secretary respectively on October 12.
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