21st June, 2023
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
In the last 24 hours, several unverified reports have revealed that President Bola Tinubu has appointed retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The news first emanated from social media on Tuesday. Some blogs and others feasted on the story. Even Reuben Abati, a supposed veteran journalist, in his blog carried the story that Tinubu had appointed Odumosu as EFCC chairman, replacing the suspended Abdulrasheed Bawa.
HOW TRUE IS THIS?
A check shows that there was no official statement from the Federal Government announcing Odumosu as EFCC chairman. All government appointments so far has come through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). In Odumosu’s case, there was nothing like that. Also, there was no statement in all federal government social media handles regarding the appointment of Odumosu as new EFCC boss. The stories being peddled around have no link to any government official or statement.
Also, it should be noted that all previous EFCC chairmen, starting from Nuhu Ribadu, Farida Waziri, Ibrahim Larmode, Ibrahim Magu and Bawa, were appointed while still in the police force. No retired police officer has ever been appointed EFCC chairman. Odumosu retired as AIG in January 2022, so, his appointment could not have been genuine.
Rubbishing the report, the retired AIG, Odumosu on Wednesday said it was fake and untrue. He said “Good Morning everyone, I have been inundated with so many calls and messages between yesterday and today on a purported “EFCC Appointment.”
“I just want to use this opportunity to debunk this information and say it’s totally UNTRUE.”
VERDICT: Reports going round that Odumosu has been appointed EFCC’s chairman is Fake News and untrue. More so, Odumosu has rubbished the report. It should be disregarded. “This information must have emanated from mischief makers and should be totally disregarded,” Odumosu stated.