Every Public Official On EFCC Watch List, Says Waziri

[TGD]

 Denies Being Corrupt

FROM the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri has come revelation that every public official in the country is on the watch list of the anti-graft agencies.

"Every public official is on the watch list of anti-corruption agencies, including officials of the EFCC. Don't forget that every public official is expected to adhere to the principles and practices of accountability and probity," Waziri said in an interview with The Guardian.

According to her, the recent arrest of three former governors, like all other engagements of the Commission in its anti-graft war, was meant to further the zero tolerance for corruption by the commission and the government.

The EFCC boss said: "It is a continuous thing, as long as there are proven breaches of the law. It is not fair to say that all these engagements are indication of a renewed fight against corruption, because there is nothing to suggest that the fight has abated in any way.

"It is important to place the peculiar circumstances of an anti-graft agency, like the EFCC, in a proper perspective in order to ensure fairness and objectivity. We deal with issues on their strides. There is no time the EFCC is on recess and it is not every time we take politically-exposed persons to court. So, we are always working and our focus can never shift from our mandate."

On the insinuations in some quarters that the recent arrest of some ex-governors was a ploy by her to sought for a second term in office, Waziri said there was no fact in the insinuation, stressing that anti-graft fight is a continuum, as long as our laws are broken.

She also denied the allegation that cases against suspected public officials are not water-tight in most cases.

"This is certainly not true. Are you saying that we are appearing in courts in order to lose our cases?  EFCC has never lost any case on technical ground. The truth of the matter is that our detractors are always quick to accuse us of everything, even our strengths. We employ the best lawyers in the land to prosecute our cases.

"Do you know the number of convictions we have secured so far? So, how have we succeeded this much if our cases are not watertight, as you have claimed? Why do you think defense counsel continue to file frivolous applications to stall or prolong trials if we don't have watertight cases against the accused?'

On the allegation of corrupt practices against her by some groups, Waziri denied it, challenging any of her accusers to come up with evidence.

"What allegations and by who? You must understand the nature of the job that we are doing.  Fighting corruption in Nigeria as I always say is like holding the tiger by the tail, it will fight back and if you are not careful, it will consume you. So, I'm not moved a bit by any spurious claim by anyone,'' she said.



The Guardian