Date Published: 02/23/11

EFCC recovers $6.5 billion, secures 150 convictions in 24 months, says Waziri

Farida Waziri

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recovered over $6.5bn in the past two a half years in its crusade against corruption.

Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, who made this disclosure on Wednesday, said the commission had also secured over 150 convictions, while over 1500 cases were still pending in the courts.

Waziri spoke when the World Heavyweight wrestling Champion, Mr. Osita Offor, visited the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

The EFCC boss said the anti-corruption agency could not succeed unless it had the support of the people.

She denied that the EFCC had withdrawn cases against any former public office holder, insisting that the EFCC had not withdrawn its case against the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

She said, “El-Rufai’s case emanated from the National Assembly. It’s the courts that will decide whether he is guilty or not. Once we start a case we never withdraw.”

Waziri further claimed that the EFCC was still investigating the allegations against Amos Adamu and his activities, saying that “I’m not aware that we are withdrawing any cases. This commission is a very professional organisation with officers that are well trained locally and internationally.”

She added that the American Federal Bureau of Investigation was currently training officers of the EFCC on investigation and interrogation techniques.

Waziri said the EFCC needed champions like Offor and Ambassador John Fashanu to launch assaults on corruption.

“Our job here is to wage relentless war against the menace of economic and financial crimes including corruption which has not only given our country a bad image abroad, but had equally been the bane of our economic development,” she said.

In his remarks, Offor, who was accompanied by Fashanu, said the belt was for Nigeria.

Offor said he was concerned about the future of young people because they needed direction.“All the young people need is someone to act as a role model to them. If we cannot embark onthis job, nobody can. I’m not holding this title for myself, I’m holding for everyone,” he said.

Offor said he defeated the former heavy weight champion, an American, because he was determined.

“Some people fight because of the dollars, but I said to myself that if I can beat the American, I can use the title to speak for Nigeria,” he said.

Fashanu in a brief speech, said Offor’s rise to the top had been a struggle.

“When we see what the EFCC is doing, it wouldn’t be right not to want to collaborate with the commission at every level,” he said.

Fashanu said he and Offor would visit six universities in the six geo-political zones of the country.

“We will use the platform of wrestling and football to collaborate with the EFCC in the war against corruption,” Fashanu said.