Protesters flooded the Federal Capital Territory on Monday, demanding that the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, be removed immediately.
Under the aegis of the Save Democracy Group (SDG), the demonstrators accused Olukoyede of breaking the law and insulting the judiciary.
In a statement signed by its convener, Comrade Toyosi Moshood, the organisation also claimed that Olukoyede had undermined the nation’s democracy and violated the rule of law since his appointment.
Moshood further claimed that the EFFC under Olukoyede has derailed its core objectives and allowed itself to be used by desperate politicians to advance their selfish political interests and prosecute personal political vendetta.
The protesters, therefore, urged Olukoyede to step aside to restore the confidence of Nigerians in our public space and forestalls looting of public funds.
“The recent apparent disregard of court orders by the EFCC which was created to enforce the law is a testament of how the EFCC under the current chairman has become a shadow of its former self,” the statement said.
“The deliberate attempt to try innocent Nigerians online and smear their hard-earned reputations without first securing a conviction from courts of competent jurisdiction depicts the commission under Olukoyade as one which is at sea as to the best practices in the prosecution of economic crimes. He is hugely unfit to manage such and office and we call for his immediate sack.
“Every Nigerian is aware of the sacrifices of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other comrades who fought relentlessly to restore our dear nation to democracy after incessant and ruinous military rule.
“We call on Mr. President to use his good offices to remove bad eggs that do not align with his rich democratic ideals. The EFCC chairman has become a moral and political liability to Mr. President.
“His continuation at the helm of the agency calls to question, the avowed resolve of Mr. President to sincerely fight corruption. The style and approach of the EFCC under Olukoyade reminds Nigerians of the gory days of the military when institutions of government were deployed against perceived political opponents.
“We must, therefore, quickly remind Olukoyade that this is a constitutional democracy and every action of any institution of government must be carried out in an acceptable constitutional manner. “