Date Published: 10/24/09

Judges, Defence Counsels, are frustrating EFCC says Waziri

The boss of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Farida Waziri, at the weekend described the judiciary as one of the main stumbling blocks in the fight against high profile corrupt persons in Nigeria. 

Waziri who spoke with pointblanknews.com in New York City singled out some defense counsels who employ dodgy tactics to frustrate the efforts of the commission, and some judges who hand down ridiculous sanctions, and honor dubious requests from defense counsels despite the overwhelming evidence before them. 

Waziri who was a guest speaker at the 35 th annual convention of Black mayors in Las Vegas, urged Nigerians not to lose confidence in the EFCC because the commission could not fight corruption without the cooperation of the judiciary, the people and other agencies. 

The EFCC boss cited the case of Ex Edo Governor, Lucky Igbinedion, who got a slap on the wrist after he admitted to looting the states’ treasury, and all parties in the case, including the judge had agreed on his sentence. 

Waziri who disclosed that she had spoken with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) chairman about the worrisome development recalled “When Lucky Igbinedion’s lawyer came to discuss with our lawyers about plea bargaining, that he wanted to return some of the looted funds, we agreed. We worked together; he forfeited some things like houses in Edo, Lagos, and Abuja, also some monies and companies. But when we got to court, the shock was from the courts. I never got over it for a long, long time. because instead of the sentence as it was agreed, the judge gave him an option of fine. I think it was N3.5million. He brought the money from the boot of his car and paid the fine there and then”  

On the defense counsels and their strategy Waziri said” once these defense counsels see the charges and proof of evidence that their client has a very bad case, and that he might go to jail, they will ensure the case doesn’t get to trial. That is why they attack the jurisdiction, they ask for stay of execution, there are interlocutory injunctions right , left and center,…it is sad” 

Waziri who is an advocate of the setting up of special courts to try high profile corrupt cases as practiced in South Africa, and Ghana added “ it hurts when you arrest someone today with all the evidence and tomorrow he is free driving around in a Hummer jeep, and the people blame the EFCC, we can’t do it alone” 

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