Date Published: 12/23/09

2010 Will Be Tough For The Corrupt – Waziri 

Farida Waziri

 Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Mrs Farida Waziri has said that 2010 will be a tough year for the corrupt in Nigeria.

She said this on Tuesday December 22 while receiving renowned sports ambassador, John Fashanu who came on a courtesy visit to the anti-graft agency, even as she disclosed that EFCC’s lawyers had already obtained a certified true copy of Justice Marcel Awokulehin’s ruling on the 170 count charge filed against former Delta state governor, James Ibori and had gone ahead to file a notice of appeal against the judgement at the court of appeal, Benin.

Justice Awokulehin had on Thursday, December 17, 2009 thrown out the 170 count charge of corruption ,abuse of office and money laundering against the former Delta state governor.

According to Waziri, 2010 would be full of night mare for the corrupt in Nigeria as she expressed her determination to give them a hot chase if they fail to change their ways.

“We are determined to pursue the corrupt in our society to the four walls of this country in the coming year in a way they have never been chased before but our zeal and sleepless nights of investigation should not be allowed to go in vain through lack of commitments from people central to the success of this crusade”, she stated.

She urged Fashanu to lend his support to the war against corruption in Nigeria. “We believe the country needs more of people like you, not only as role models for the younger generation but to boost the world’s perception of who we are in Nigeria. This is why we will not just partner you on sports development but will appreciate if you will add your voice to our campaign against all forms of economic crimes including corruption in our country.

You have kicked football on the pitch of play to bring fame and honour to our country, please join us to kick corruption out of Nigeria so that Nigeria can be great again”, she added.

Speaking while fielding questions from journalists on allegations that the Commission’s arrest of Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto State was to silence the opposition, Waziri stated that this is far from the truth.

According to her, “In every country, democracy needs opposition. I am not against any opposition whatsoever. The issue is that once we arrest somebody, there must be a reason why. The person is the first to give the wrong reason other than the main reason. I want you to address the 47 count charges that we have filed, look at the merit on the ground of it. Once I have a case file before me, I don’t look at your face, your name or whatever; I am looking at the facts of the case. If I establish a prima facie case of course the charges would be drafted and you would be arraigned. There are no two ways to it.

“Some politicians are even saying it’s because of their rising profile; the profile can rise within the confines of the rule of law.. There is no political motive behind the arrest and prosecution of the former governor. I have no alliance with PDP; I am not playing PDP ‘s script or whatsoever”.   

On former FCT minister, Nasir El-Rufai, the anti –graft agency boss said “I read in the papers that he is planning to come, some dates were given, to me it’s speculation as he has not written to us that he is coming to answer our invitation. So we would wait and see, but certainly he has some questions to answer from the EFCC when he comes”.

In his remarks, the Sports Ambassador, Fashanu said as a football player, he was honoured and privileged to be around the EFCC Chairman and commended the achievement s of the commission in restoring hope to Nigerians.

He further explained that Football Challenge with Fash would want to partner with EFCC, citing football to be the number one game in the world and the biggest export in the world in terms of human resources; as people understand the language of football world-wide. “Football is an agent of change which also provides money for the less privileged.”