1st December, 2011
Since the suddenly removal of Mrs. Farida Waziri as the chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) few days ago, many felt the Federal Government took a right decision of leadership termination of the czar. The anti-graft agency has been politically hijacked by powers that be. Corruption has fast becoming epidemic euphoria of selected privileged few in the country.
EFCC was created by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002 which chairmanship was bestowed on the former presidential candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) of 2011 April election, Nuhu Ribadu. He averagely did well to expose the nitty-gritty of corruption among top Nigerians, who were publicly disgraced. The fear of EFCC and Nuhu Ribadu made many advanced fraud personalities and yahoo boys to flee the country. In fact, both EFCC and ICPC were headed by competent hands, reducing corruption at the barest minimum.
EFCC was mostly chasing after high profile politicians who emptied government treasuries without considering the masses that voted them into power, even though the agency later lost its glory when most politicians did not agree with Obasanjo’s alleged third term agenda and many were unlawfully apprehended with no due process.
The unprecedented sack of Mrs. Farida Waziri is not new in the commission. Nuhu Ribadu was rapidly promoted by the then government but was later demoted and as to proceed on one year course by the former IGP, Mr. Mike Okiro.
Nuhu Ribadu did well to curb corruption in Nigeria but was rubbished by some highly placed Nigerians who felt the menace was a growing seed which only some could be authentic beneficiaries in all ramifications.
EFCC is a tough anti-graft agency which only credible minds could handle its leadership with moral justification. Most names and companies published by the agency and ICPC in our print media indicate that only few could be arrested while others enjoy freedom without molestation.
It is sad that the purpose of establishing EFCC has been hijacked by some persons in the country. Although it was politically betrayed by ambitious leaders who felt the commission should be scrapped since the decision makers were the perpetrators of this callous crime in the country.
Indeed, EFCC was emotively needed to correct some political corruption which has eaten deep into the fabric of the society, but Nuhu Ribadu missed it all when he started to arrest innocent Nigerians while the criminal minded ones were walking freely on the streets.
In 2007, the late President Musa Yar’Adua appointed Farida to head EFCC which elicited much negative reactions that a female will not perform to the masses’ expectations. Although Farida did her best to expose some Nigerians, she was never given the chance to excel in the commission by criminally minded Nigerians who felt only corrupt people could ascend to power.
With the appointment of Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde as the new EFCC chairman, many Nigerians praised Jonathan for the move but how will corruption be eradicated is what is giving most Nigerians some concern.
Nigeria is rated in the world as one of the corrupt countries with high rising index, yet the EFCC, with previous czars, failed to arrest the major perpetrators of the dastardly acts.
It is hoped that the new leadership of anti-graft agency will expose many corrupt Nigerians if Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde is serious about what he told Nigerians when he was appointed head of the commission.
The challenges before Ibrahim Lamorde is about restructuring the commission and make it visible for the masses to believe that EFCC is working not for selfish interests.
Lastly, if Ribadu and Farida failed Nigerians, then Lamorde should not fail the people’s conscience, while the agitation for Federal Government not to control EFCC should be revisited so that the commission can work independently with no influence from the centre.
It is time for Nigerians to cooperate with the new EFCC boss for effective monitoring and arrest of corrupt politicians and others in the country.
•Godday A. Odidi, a public affairs commentator, lives in Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos.