The Case Against Waziri

Comfort Obi

Farida Waziri, AIG (rtd), chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is going through another round of baptism of fire. Her first was when she was announced as the chairman of the Commission. Problem started for her when the former chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, was asked to proceed to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), for a course. To Ribadu's die-hard fans, Waziri was an automatic enemy. It was as if Waziri was responsible for sending Ribadu to NIPSS. Suddenly, it became a crime to ask one to go for a course to improve onself. Suddenly, it was as if Nigeria, not just the EFCC, would collapse without Ribadu. I wondered how an institution would suddenly be built around an individual so much so that people believed it would not survive without that individual. Waziri became an innocent victim of the furore which followed Ribadu’s exit. Every effort was made to stop her clearance by the Senate. Every tool, including stories that she stood surety for some ex-governors whose cases were before the EFCC. That turned out to be false. But by far, the most damaging allegation was the one which claimed that she was an appointee of those governors, chief amongst them, former Delta State Governor, James Ibori. Indeed, there is now a confusion over who really was behind her appointment. Several names have been mentioned amongst whom is a socialite from Waziri’s state, Benue.
But Waziri calmly navigated her way through the first baptism of fire, smelling of roses. She faced her job, calmly ignoring all the yabis and allegations of incompetence. She had since taken on some high profile cases, arrested suspects, and succeeded in arraigning them in court. Atimes, grudgingly, her efforts are acknowledged. But, penultimate week, all hell was let loose.
While presenting a paper at an event, she gave the true picture of the EFCC she inherited. She said that from what she saw from the files of 31 ex-governors and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, there were no strong cases yet against them. And so, it was not possible for her to proceed to court, or even initiate any arrests. The next day, Waziri’s submissions made headline story. And the impression was given that Waziri said there was no case against Obasanjo and the 31 governors.
Now, let me say this for the records. I was never in support of some of the methods used by Ribadu in his prosecution / arrest of suspects. His style of calling people who had not yet been found guilty of any offence by any law court criminals, crooks, etc made me sick. It was a media trial, and the masses, reduced to nothing by poverty and thieving leaders, fell for all that. The sight of former Inspector General of Police, IGP, Tafa Balogun, in handcuffs and being pushed to the ground by Ribadu’s men still haunts decent people. The show was unnecessary. And so was breaking down doors with dozens of policemen just to effect the arrest of Chief Mike Adenuga, and the arrest and detention of Mohammed Babangida just to assuage the yearning of Nigerians who have been calling for the arrest and trial of his father, former military President, Ibrahim Babangida.
Ribadu, no doubt, started well. But he allowed himself to be consumed by politics, and thus became more of an obstacle to democracy than a forward moving tool. Recall the illegal impeachment of governors and the confusion in Rivers State over the 2007 governorship election. These were all creations of Ribadu. But I digress.
So, what is the case against Waziri. It is simple. Waziri has refused to play to the gallery. She has refused to be a media celebrity. She is not criminalising people on the pages of newspapers, without thorough investigations. She is not parading suspects in handcuffs. And she is not claiming what she cannot do yet. In sum, she is courageous enough to tell us the truth.
But let us talk about Obasanjo and the 31 state governors. In doing that, we should not forget the applause which greeted Ribadu’s appearance at the National Assembly where he alleged that 31 governors then were corrupt. The questions are: What evidence did he have when he spoke? If he had, what did he do? Let us give him the benefit of doubt that he was handicapped because the governors had immunity. From his submissions, immunity did not stop him from investigating them. So, we take it that he had their cases “tied up” before he spoke. But look at this.
The governors lost their immunity on May 29, 2007. Ribadu was still in charge at the EFCC for months more. Question, then: Why didn’t Ribadu arrest them, and start their prosecution in the courts if he had their files ready? Most of them were in the country before his exit from the EFCC. Or, did anybody stop him form arresting and/or prosecuting them?
In Obasanjo’s case, it is on record that petitions were sent against him. But it was Ribadu who said publicly, a couple of times, that there was no case against Obasanjo; that he had investigated and found him clean. So, what new evidence did Ribadu leave in the EFCC file against Obasanjo? Indeed, does Obasanjo have a file at the EFCC left by Ribadu? I will be surprised. He was Obasanjo’s boy, used by him to intimidate opponents and whip others “in line.” Other questions follow: Did Ribadu do enough investigation on the ex-governors? If he did not, as is obvious now, what does anybody want Waziri to work with? Do we expect her to, like Ribadu, claim she has strong cases against them when she does not have?
Truth is, yes, Ribadu left files, but how strong are the contents of the files? Will they stand in court? Farida, a tested detective, does not want to make a fool of herself by going to court with watery cases. What I believe she is doing is to investigate the cases and know which ones are the truth, and which ones were mere hype and playing to the gallery. But some words for Waziri.
She must never disappoint. Her records in the police speak for her. She must never play to the gallery. She must never let anybody set the agenda for her. She must never let anybody stampede her into arresting anybody when she does not yet have a strong case against such a person. She must look before she leaps. She doesn’t need a celebrity -status to do her job. My attraction to her is her mien – cool and calculated, unfazed by sentiments. Let your work and actions speak for you. Nigerians are appreciative people. With time, if you do your work without fear or favour, they will clap. That will be your answer to those who think that without an individual, the war on corruption is dead. It is not.