The Farida Waziri

The Farida Waziri’s EFCC: Expect the Expected

Hakeem Babalola

Before her confirmation, the newly appointed chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs Farida Waziri, had bragged that she’d step on toes and disregard sacred cows in a renewed systematic fight against corruption in the land. She also promised the Committee that she’d lift the EFCC above the levels attained by the former Chairman Nuhu Ribadu saying, “A systematic war against graft would involve enlightenment, deterrence and rigorous pursuit of financial criminals in all strata of (Nigerian) society”. The ex-police officer added that she’d respect the law while fighting authority stealing.

If it was not a rhetoric masquerading as promise, I would have believed her. I would have swum across the Danube River here in Hungary to show my emotion from contentment to intense joy. I would have blown a trumpet in anticipation of another Dora Akunyili (NAFDAC), who is being described as a woman of substance in her genuine efforts to get rid of poisonous and illegal drugs since 2001. Ah, I would have let out a sigh of scepticism.

Particularly I like what her husband disclosed about her. “The Farida I know would never spare me if I commit an economic crime, because she always separates official assignment from matrimonial duties, and I am talking about what I know,” said the Second Republic Senator, who was a former Deputy Inspector General of Police and immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey. Well, the on-going graft case against the two former Aviation Ministers by the EFCC may be a stimulus test.

In a society where Local Chairmen, Governors, Senators, Honourables and Presidents steal with impunity, nothing makes it a blessed time than the arrival of someone with courage and good intentions to prosecute all those who have abused the thrust of office. But I don’t see Madam Waziri as one who would do a non-partial job. Permit me such prejudgement. Even if this woman is determined to do a good job, the society in which she lives would stop at nothing to destabilise her mind. She’s only a woman, they may posit. Some may argue that a woman who enjoys shopping abroad shouldn’t be given such sensitive job. They may even compare her with that hairdresser who was recently disgraced out of office.

Upon all, I would have given her a benefit of doubt if I had detected sincerity in her promise to fight graft. I would have trusted her if she had bragged about everything but with a clause: I would step on some toes. That would have been the honest promise rather than the usual loud and confused and empty talk. For a quick example, Ribadu did more than stepping on toes, especially handcuffing and dragging Tafa Balogun, his boss and ex-IG on the floor. And what is the outcome of his tenure or career? Where is Ribadu now? That is why Madam should tarry a little; it is the reason why she must let equity be her guiding philosophy.

Madam Waziri would do better by not stepping on toes, especially big toes that are capable of tearing her high heel leather shoes. It is not even the fact that Waziri would not step on certain toes that disturbs me, but the continue deceit that characterised their intentions. Whenever they boast of stepping on toes, they mean two things: small toes or toes that do not belong to their principal or relatives or friends. Nigerians witnessed such extremely restless tossing and twitching under Malam Nuhu Ribadu.

Arrest is not the same as conviction, and we have had a lot of the former. Experience has shown that the EFCC likes making gragra about virtually everything. Not so long ago, the Commission treated Nigerians to weeks of comedy when they chased Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello here and there but could not find her hiding place until the former number one daughter eventually gave herself up. Is this the Crime commission to be taken seriously? By the way, what is the aftermath of this case? Of course, there have been many cases of arrests without clear result. People like Dariye, Alams, Ibori, Igbinedion, Kalu etc come to mind.

The Nigerian government has a way of sweeping the cases of those with big toes under the carpet. That is why many people still have grudge against Ribadu. He was seen as a young man used for Obasanjo’s purpose – to deal with anyone in Obasanjo’s bad book. Waziri’s tenure won’t be different from that of her predecessor although the tactics might be different. She would make noise about arrests but nothing will come out of it. I have a premonition that the arrested public officials would be able to hide under the rule of law to escape punishment. This is somehow dangerous but we must respect the rule of law.

The errant public officials understand how the Nigerian system works. They know that every Nigerian government lacks sincerity; that the nature of arrest is always politically motivated, and Borishade has said so. They know this fact and they have been successfully using it to their advantage. Perhaps the two ex-Aviation Ministers, Borishade Babalola and Fani Kayode relied on this knowledge as they smiled during their arraignment in court for conspiracy, breach of trust, breach of official trust, forgery and misappropriation of about N19.5 billion government infrastructure intervention fund. They were sure that by tomorrow they will have been released like others before them.

Further trouble is that Madam Waziri is a retired police officer and it is obvious the Nigeria Police Force is a tool of political manipulation. To be fair to her, no EFCC chairman or woman would be given enough freedom to perform to the satisfaction of the public. The issue is not about Waziri’s personality per se but the purpose for which the office was initially created. I think we need to know the real reason why Obasanjo created the EFCC. Equally important is that establishments are not being allowed to perform their specific duties without interference from the so-called power above. This is my immediate fear.

Therefore to succeed or to carry along the public with her, Madam Waziri must learn from her predecessor’s mistakes. She should forget the rumour being carried that she stood surety for George Akume, former governor and now a senator. We have let bygones be bygones. What she needs to guide against is witch-hunting. She must convince the public that she is ready to step on big but not innocent toes. If she managed to do this, then Nigerians would be ready to fight for her in case of unjust dismissal in the near future. Her presence should not reflect the inelegance and arrogance of a bygone era.