Salami Panel: I Was Invited, Cleared, Restored As EFCC Secretary, Olukoyede Replies Malami

….Show One Asset Linked To Me, EFCC Chair Challenges Critics

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has dismissed claims of his indictment by the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the activities of the EFCC from 2015 to 2020.

Olukoyede, speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Sunday, said he was invited to the panel and was later cleared, reinstated and paid all his entitlements as secretary of the commission.

The EFCC boss was responding to a recent statement by the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, accusing him of “retaliatory persecution” and demanding his recusal from his investigation, citing Chapter 9 of the Salami Report

Olukoyede, however, challenged Malami to publish the Salami report if indeed he (Olukoyede) was indicted as suggested.

“…those who claimed I was indicted fraudulently or criminally indicted by the panel, the onus is on them to publish the report for people to see.

“Because I’ve had occasions to listen to people who say, oh, we have not seen the report, and they are making claims that I was indicted.

“Don’t forget that this panel was set up in 2020, and I think they wound up their activities in early 2021,” the EFCC boss recalled.

Olukoyede asked why Malami, who served as Attorney-General from 2015 to 2023, never published the report during his tenure despite having access to the document.

“Why was the report not published for two years that he was in the office? Why was it that after investigation, you know, a case file was opened, not only opened, after it was found that this was about to be filed, which he knew, that was when he now came to the public to say that it was persecution, that he was investigated because of the report of the panel,” said Olukoyede.

The EFCC chairman said he had never seen the Salami panel report and would not comment on a document he had not laid his hands on.

He explained that he was invited to the panel in his capacity as Secretary to the EFCC, alongside several other directors and staff of the commission.

“For me, I’ve not seen the report of the panel. I won’t speak to what I cannot lay my hands on. That’s number one.

“Number two, about the panel, I believe this is a better opportunity for me to put this thing to rest. All Nigerians knew that it was the former acting chairman that was the subject of that investigation. But in the course of the investigation, they felt they needed to take statements or to seek clarification from other members of staff.

“Of course, at that time, I was the secretary to the commission. So I was invited, not only me, quite a number of directors, I think about seven or eight of them were invited. Some members of the management staff were also invited.

“Both middle and lower cadres were also invited, quite a number of us, and we went to the panel. I attended the sitting of the panel on two occasions. The first time, I was asked what the statutory mandate was and I explained.

“The second time I got there, I sat for some time. They said, okay, they will send for me if they need me. That was the last I knew about the panel.

“Now, I think sometime down the road, I was invited by this institution, and I was told that the report has been forwarded to them for further investigation. So I was invited to come and make a statement. So I came and made the statement, just like any other person, like, of course, the other directors and other members of staff, they also came to make statements.

“So I did my statement, and that was it. But as I’m talking to you, the long and short of it is that, number one, the report, I mean, the investigation report cleared me,” he stated.

Olukoyede noted that, “the same presidency that set up that panel, gave me a letter of clearance.

“Now, what is important is, not only the presidency, even the law enforcement that carried out further investigation cleared me.”

He noted that he was reinstated and paid all outstanding allowances and salaries due to him as secretary of the EFCC.

“All through my service in the public sector, as Chief of Staff and as Secretary of the EFCC, I have never been involved in any fraudulent activity as proven by any court of law or institution,” Olukoyede stated.

He further challenged his critics to produce evidence linking him or members of his family to any illicit assets.

“You can’t trace any assets to me or any member of my family. No Nigerian can say I collected one naira, or even one bottle of Coke, to influence my judgment,” the EFCC boss said.

“And no Nigerian can say I collected one dime from them in the course of carrying out my activities. So, the issue of fraudulent indictment, I don’t know where that would have come from.

“And Nigerians should also remember that I asked all my staff to also declare their assets. So, it’s something that anybody can verify.

“I’ve never been involved in any fraudulent activity, whether as chief of staff or as secretary. And I’m telling Nigerians, if you have ever found me a bribe, and I collected, come out and say it.

“I do my work with every sense of diligence. And I do my work with every sense of commitment and loyalty to the mandate.”

On criticisms that the EFCC is slow in prosecuting politically exposed persons, Olukoyede explained that high-profile corruption cases are complex and often involve foreign jurisdictions.

“In 48 hours, I can investigate and arraign a cybercriminal. But when it comes to politically exposed persons or high-profile corruption, it takes time,” he said.

He cited an ongoing investigation of a former governor and how the EFCC had sent about seven requests to foreign banks and received responses from only two so far.

Olukoyede stressed that international legal processes, mutual legal assistance treaties, and tracing funds abroad often delay prosecutions.

“If I don’t have the evidence, I will not go to court,” he said.