EFCC Release: Corruption, Threat To National Security - Waziri

[Jobbers]

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mrs.  Farida Waziri  has described corruption as the biggest threat to  Nigeria's economy and national security. Waziri said this on Monday, November 21st, 2011 at the National Defence  College, Abuja while delivering a lecture entitled : "Economic Crimes  and National Security: Challenges for Nigeria".
 
The EFCC boss explained that there was a direct nexus between security and the economy and that a poor economy was the anvil on which adverse national interests are forged. She pointed out that national security is the composite of   economic; political; environmental; health; nutritional , community and personal securities. In all of these, Waziri stressed that economic security was imperative.

"Indeed the rallying cry should be that,  as a nation, 'seek ye the kingdom of economic
prosperity and every other thing shall be added unto thee'. In other words, secure your
economy first, and the other essential parameters will be easier to handle", she explained.  In tackling the menace of corruption, Waziri  identified four essential pillars of integrity as necessary conditions for national security. These are: political will;  effective law enforcement; effective and incorruptible judiciary and an independent, virile civil society.

"First, there must be a political will to fight corruption. When the chips are down, the essence of political leadership is to provide a direction for policies and to provide requisite anti-corruption structures, such as legislation, funding, zero tolerance policies, among others", she said.

On effective law enforcement. the EFCC boss  explained that,  "while political will translates to zero tolerance for corruption as well as the provision of effective anti-corruption structures, it behoves the anti-corruption agencies to implement and run with the structures".

On effective administration of justice, she said that, "we must understand that all political will and law enforcement in the world ultimately end in a court of law. The best any law enforcement agency can do is to properly investigate cases and file charges, after which the courts take over. The frustrations faced by law enforcement agencies within the tedious common law process of administration of justice must be voided".
And on the need for an independent and virile civil society, Waziri submitted that the civil society is the conscience of the nation. "Civil society cannot afford to pander to select parochial interests but must maintain a clinical sense of objectivity".

The EFCC Chairman made the presentation to Course 20 participants of the National Defence College. The participants were drawn from the various arms of the nation's armed forces, law enforcement agencies, including anti-graft organizations.

Media & Publicity Unit,
EFCC

Release Date: 21/11/2011