It was also gathered that the former secretary of the commission enjoys the backing of a top villa official, according to sources.
However, sources in the commission lamented that the suspended secretary does not have the requisite qualification to be made EFCC chairman as stipulated by the law.
They argued that despite being a lawyer, he does not have experience in law enforcement or investigation.
According to Section 2 (a) (ii) of the EFCC Act 2004, the Commission’s Chairman must be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or its equivalent; and (iii) possess not less than 15 years cognate experience.
There are also concerns that his return as head of the commission will not augur well for the anti-graft agency’s image, following Justice Ayo Salami-led panel report which indicted him in 2020.
Recall that he was suspended as EFCC secretary, alongside former acting EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu over alleged corrupt practices.
Recall that the Justice Ayo Salami-led presidential panel had investigated allegations against Magu and submitted its report to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Although it didn’t make its findings public, reports emerged that the panel recommended Magu’s sacking and prosecution over allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
The panel further recommended that Magu should be referred to the inspector-general of police (IGP) for “necessary disciplinary action”, and that he should be prosecuted for the alleged offences. Olukoyede was indicted alongside Magu by the panel.
Also, members of the commission, especially senior staffers who have put in no less than 20 years in the anti-graft agencies, have decried the prospect of being overlooked for the top position.
They decried the notion that an “outsider” would be brought to preside over them, considering that their set was poised to produce the next EFCC.
They also expressed concern that the Olukayode would be on a vendetta mission against staff who complied with the events that led to his suspension which would cause internal tensions and distract the commission from its assignment.
However, sources in the commission decried the move to install a chairman from the South West, even though there has been subtle agitation to ensure that Abdulrasheed Bawa’s successor comes from the Southern part of the country.
Those agitating for the next chairman to come from the South, said it would follow in the pattern of the recent appointment of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, which saw a southern occupy the office for the first time since 1999.
Like FCT, a southerner has never been appointed as EFCC chairman since its creation.
“We agree the EFCC chairman should come from the southern part of the country. But it would be appropriate if the next chairman comes from either the South East or the South South.
“The South West region has already cornered most of the strategic appointments in the country. So it would be honourable for the president to look at the two other regions in the geo-political zone,” another source said.