Ebelo, a seasoned investigator with over two decades of service, assumed duties today during a handover ceremony at the zonal office in Kano. 

He succeeds Deputy Commander Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, who had served in the acting role since July 2025.In his inaugural address to staff, Ebelo called for unwavering professionalism amid the escalating battle against economic crimes in northern Nigeria.

“Let us uphold integrity and diligence as we intensify our mandate,” Ebelo urged. “The core values of the EFCC must guide every action in this fight.” 

The outgoing director, Hanafi Sa’ad, reflected on his tenure with appreciation, encouraging the team to amplify their support for the new leadership.

“Double the cooperation you showed me,” Sa’ad advised. “This will drive even greater success for the directorate.” 

Ebelo’s appointment builds on Olukoyede’s broader restructuring efforts, which began in April 2024 with the elevation of all 14 zonal commands to departmental status and the naming of directors nationwide. 

Prior to this role, Ebelo served as Acting Director of the Executive Chairman’s Office and Coordinator of Special Duties since April 2024, where he managed high-stakes investigations, task forces, and corruption analytics.

His distinguished track record includes stints as Commander of the Makurdi Zonal Command (September 2021–April 2024), Zonal Head in Ibadan (2019–2020), and Gombe (2018–2019).

EFCC spokespersons hailed the move as a strategic infusion of expertise to bolster operations in Kano, a key hub for probing financial fraud, money laundering, and illicit dealings in the Northwest. 

The agency has ramped up arrests and recoveries in the region this year, with Ebelo’s leadership expected to sustain that trajectory ahead of 2027 elections.