The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of engaging more in sensation rather than real investigation.

Akpabio stated this during the screening and confirmation of the newly appointed EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, and the Commission’s Secretary, Muhammad Hammajoda, during plenary on Wednesday.

Just like many Senators, Akpabio narrated how a letter was released from the office of the Chairman of the Commission to the press, in order to embarrass him ahead of the 2023 election.

He also queried why the operatives of the Commission will adopt unprofessional approach by breaking into people’s homes, citing the arrest of the former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.

“The reality is that the EFCC has engaged more on sensation than real investigation.

“For me, I have had me own share, when even a letter informing the EFCC that I will not be able to come on a frivolous petition was released by the office of the chairman of the EFCC to Sahara Reporters, you see the chairman’s stamp on it.

“He released it to Sahara Reporters just to embarrass me because of the 2023 election, but to the glory of God, I surmounted it and I am here. So, for me, I don’t think we should waste time with EFCC, we need to take a thorough look at EFCC and look at whether the Act setting up EFCC even allows them to function because there is too much discretion.

“I don’t see how the EFCC will go and arrest a former governor and come through the rooftop as if they are taking Pablo Escobar. It happened to Rochas Okorocha, they came through the roof and they broke through the POP and he was calling live, Nigerians were watching, the whole world watched.

“They removed the roof, went through the POP, broke it down and they were going down with guns. Is that EFCC? And for you that is investigation?” Akpabio said.

Akpabio condemned the approach of the Commission as against international best practices, saying investigating agencies abroad can discretely follow an accused person for up to 10 years until evidences are established.

“Outside this country, they can follow somebody for five to ten years until they establish evidence before they invite that person. But (here) they keep embarrassing people’s children, traumatising the children, stigmatising people because they have the opportunity to be in public office,” Akpabio said.

He further accused the agency of tampering with properties seized from people by putting them for sale at ridiculous prices.

“And even within EFCC, properties you recovered are stolen; people’s properties that are supposed to be in you care are sold out at ridiculous prices. Properties worth N5m are sold for N300 because it is EFCC. I have my opinion about EFCC.”

He said that Olukoyede must do things differently away from how some of his predecessors operated.

Olukoyede and Hammajoda, who were recently nominated by President Bola Tinubu as Chairman and Secretary of the EFCC respectively, were confirmed by the Senators after the screening.