Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri on
Friday, January 22, reiterated her resolve to step on more toes and crush more legs
this year.
“I will like to emphasize that this year will be rough and tough for the corrupt in
our country. Mark my words; I made a promise to step on toes. I have been stepping
on the toes of the corrupt but as we progress this year, we shall endeavour to crush
not only their toes but their legs,” she said.
Waziri gave the assurance when she received members of the steering committee of the
Anti-Corruption Revolution Campaign, ANCOR led by Comrade Mashood Erubami. “Our new
approach and strategy since the end of last year already point to this. We need your
support as members of the civil society, the judiciary and other stakeholders to
sustain this and ultimately win the war”,she added.
She charged members of the committee not to be discouraged by the criticism and
blackmail they may face in the course of discharging their duties. “I must remind us
again that the battle we have all publicly identified with is not an easy one. It
comes with blackmail and threats from those on the other side or those that simply
don’t like your face. They will cook up stories about you to discredit you; but be
steadfast,” she stated.
She told the committee members to take consolation in the fact that “we are pursuing
a noble cause; to rid our nation of all forms of economic crimes and corruption
which have held back our nation for years.”
Responding, Comrade Erubami, Chairman of the ANCOR Steering Committee, said they
were teaming up with EFCC to make it a globally recognized anti-corruption body. “We
want to join hands with you to build EFCC into a globally recognized anti-corruption
agency with reliable partnership with countries of advanced jurisdiction hence ANCOR
has decided to position itself as the greatest enemy of corruption.
“This is what ANCOR is doing and will continue to do through the conscious
mobilization of the people who are wonderful sources of information about where
corruption occurs and creating new avenues through partners and volunteers to
receive information on how to prevent corruption, mitigation in terms of prosecution
and educating them about the harms and consequences of corruption,” he said.
While commending Mrs. Waziri for her recent visit to Chief Judge of Lagos State,
Justice Inumidun Akande, to explore ways the Commission could work with the state’s
judiciary to enhance the fight against corruption, Comrade Erubami said that ANCOR
believes that the courts in collaboration with EFCC can go a long way to rebrand the
nation and its citizens if the judiciary will not treat corruption cases with levity
and compromise.
His words, “We implore the Chief Justice of Nigeria in consultation with all
judicial constituencies to issue new practice directives to conclude all trials of
corrupt elements before the courts within the year 2010.
“Your request for more magistrate courts to handle pre-trial detention orders sought
by the EFCC and issuance of search and arrest warrants and remand (detention)
permits is considered to be in order; hence it is heart-warming that the EFCC has
proactively offered to contribute to the training of High Court Judges on new
aspects of financial crimes”.
Erubami who said his committee will raise its voice for the removal of immunity
clause to allow the prosecution of public officers on crimes committed while in
office, promised to visit the National Assembly to explain why the establishment of
Special Courts has become necessary.
“We shall visit the Senate Committee and the House Committee members on corruption
and financial crimes to explain while the setting up of Special Courts will not
infringe on human rights but instead strengthen human rights as a development issue.
This is given that the Special Courts are necessary and desirable to stall smart
fraudsters from using the law to slow down the court process through undesirable
motions”, he added.
He noted that during the tenure of Mrs Waziri, “the act of kidnapping of accused
corrupt elements has abated and false impeachment of governors in the name of
anti-corruption is no more fanciful. Guilt pronouncements in newspapers have stopped
and all anti-corruption issues are now going through due legal processes”.
Other members of the Steering Committee who accompanied Erubami included Gbenga
Onayiga of NUJ, Joel Odigie (NLC), Yerima Shettima (ACYF), Adamu David, Olawale
Okunniyi and Dr. Sadiq Isah Radda.