By Pathfinder Reporter
Sunday, February 18, 2024
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Former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dr. Farida Waziri has said powerful Nigerians conspired against her to force her out of office as the chairman of the commission in November 2011.
She also advised Nigeria to jettison the idea of the creation of state police for now, stating that the country would live to regret it if state police were introduced into its security architecture.
The former police spy spoke on 32FM, an Ibadan radio programme, The Podium last Saturday.
Speaking on her ordeal as chairman of the apex anti-graft commission, Waziri said the late former President, Umaru Yar’Adua, who appointed her in 2008, gave her all the support she needed throughout the time he was alive, but after his death and change of government, things gradually deteriorated.
“The late President Yar’Adua was a good man. The reason EFCC chairmen leave in controversial circumstances is simple. It is because of endemic corruption in Nigeria. The country is so corrupt. Once you step on toes, big or small, you are on the way out.
“All of us, from Nuhu Ribadu, from inception, even to myself, the only woman, no matter what you do, you hurt somebody, you arrest somebody or somebody’s brother or you seize properties, they don’t like it.
“If you compare Nigeria with Singapore (one of the freest countries in the world, you can see what I mean. In this country, people are so corrupt. Pregnant with corruption is what I call it. People steal Nigeria’s money and go outside the country to buy properties and take some safe havens, and they call that investment.
“And when you intervene or your attention is called to that, they want you to look the other way. It’s a very very difficult situation in the country. And a great country like Nigeria is still slipping backward because of endemic corruption. That’s the only reason.
“And you know, there are no factories, there no industries, there is no light. So, what is there is just politics. Come rain, come shine, every time you want to be a politician and be on top there. You can see a governor who has done eight years; after eight years, he goes to the Senate. And in the Senate, he is looking for juicy committees. So, it is ‘aloota continua;’ the corruption continues,” she said.
Speaking about her encounter with former President Goodluck Jonathan, Waziri said rather than saying she was victimized for not contributing money to the 2011 presidential ambition as being speculated, she was removed for her refusal to hand off some cases she was handling.
“In my book, I didn’t say I was removed because I refused to contribute money. No. I said I was handling some cases and I was asked to stop. I had gone to Lagos with my detectives to do a sting operation. I was asked to stop the operation. The main man, the suspect, ran away, but I got his accountant and seized documents and computers. And I was asked to back off the man. Of course, I did. But when I was asked to release the documents and computers, I thought I would lose face among my staff.
“They would probably think I had collected money to let the issue pass. So, I said no, I couldn’t let go. Then, one thing led to the other. Nobody told me this was what led to what, but it was obvious. Everybody went the same way.
“As I told you, it’s because of the nature of the country; the corruption. There are a few good Nigerians, but the majority think money is everything; they worship money. As I told you, somebody goes to the USA to buy big properties or smaller ones; he goes to London and UAE to do the same thing. They go to South Africa and do the same thing. When they go there, they lodge in choice hotels.
“Then they come back and say they have made great investments. And this is taxpayers’ money. Are these things at the expense of the poor masses? A lot of countries have overtaken Nigeria because of corruption. When you don’t work before you get money, you impoverish the people,” she said.
Speaking further on her experience, the former anti-corruption boss said she was happy to have been in the EFCC, else she wouldn’t have known how bad the situation was about corruption in the country.
“In the Police Force, when they knew it was Farida coming, of course, they were agitated. One, I believed in God. Two, I believe that what is worth doing is worth doing well, else, don’t even start. If I knew that I wouldn’t be able to fight corruption, when the president called me, I would chicken out.
“But I knew I am not corrupt and I am determined and focused. And I did a lot. That’s why in the police, sensitive matters were given to me. And I am never disappointed. As I told you, I was the one also selecting police officers to go on peace-keeping missions in many countries. And I did well.
“One of the first women I picked there was in Herzegovina, but later moved to New York. Till today, she got an appointment there. At the time 419 was rampant in the country, I was the one posted there. To show you how bad and corrupt people are, when I was posted there, a very senior officer, my boss, called me and said; ‘look, they will kill you. They will just put ice on your fine face. I don’t know why the IG sent you there to be killed.’
“He said it was the government that approved them to be getting reparation for the slave trade and to take back the money stolen from Nigeria. And I believed him. For one month, I sat thinking of it. I got lean. I asked my husband what do I do? And I didn’t do any case. Then, I decided to go to the IG.
“He put his phone down when he saw me. He said you have emaciated. He said I believed in what you can do; that’s why I sent you there. How would you send a woman to Herzegovina? What is lacking? What do you need; transportation, more men?
“Then, I said ‘sir, but they said its Federal Government’s approval.’ He now said to put what you want in writing: More men, money; list everything. And I came back and swung to action.
“Let me tell you: They did everything to stop me. They fired shots at my house at No. 3 Lugard. I was praying when the bullets fell on the roof. The things fell on me; I just crawled to safety. They did everything, but I was able to weather it,” she said.
Speaking on the renewed call for the establishment of state police to help fight the insecurity in the country, she said Nigeria was not ripe for the idea.
“Yes, they have been talking about state police. But I think we are not ready for state police. I will tell you why: We are having skirmishes over borders where neighbors fight one another, like in Benue, Taraba, Cross River, and so on. Look, if you try state police and a rich governor gives the state commissioner an SUV, gives his wife a Toyota, and gives also to his baby mama, he (the governor) will pocket him.
“And anything he wants, he would call the shot. And the attitude of politicians is win or lose or the country breaks. We are not ready. If the country does state police, they will live to regret it.
“And whose authority would they be answerable to? Would they be answerable to the Inspector General, because they would be taking instructions from the governor? You have to stick to the current security architecture you have.
“When I went to the EFCC, the first thing I saw was that I came out of the office and saw a lot of people. I thought there was a demonstration and asked what happened. They said they were my staff. I then went to cater to their needs and got air-conditioned buses for all the zones. One of them, our best analyst, was shot in his house. Another one was traveling and they were ambushed. So, I took insurance cover for them. And when a calamity happens, we issue a cheque to the family; we pay. We pay them condolences.
“I can tell you that I remain the best chairman of the EFCC. It was scattered in several places in Abuja; I brought them all together. Because I travel a lot; to Scotland Yard and all that, I brought the idea of headquarters and the President bought it. Today, we have a headquarters,” she said.
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