Corruption In The Corridor of Power: We ‘re coming to get you – Farida Waziri, EFCC Chairman

For over 11 months, Sunday Vanguard had been on the trail of Farida Chinyere Waziri, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.  At almost every turn, something would throw spanner in the works and the interview never really held.
The exchanges between Sunday Vanguard and Femi Babafemi, spokes person for the Commission, with a view to getting the interview conducted, never ceased.
Last week, something sparked. Even to the surprise of Sunday Vanguard, a last minute request for the interview to be conducted on-line yielded signs that turned out to be considered positive.
However, with the workload of Madam Waziri, especially the celebrated on-going case against immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Sabur Bankole, the response to Sunday Vanguard’s request was pleasantly shocking. The on-going case represents one where the highest ranking public office holder to date is being tried – Bankole was until recently Nigeria’s Number Four citizen.
Even where two former Senate Presidents had lost their jobs on account of alleged financial misconduct, none ever came to trial – the late Chuba ‘Okikadigboli’ Okadigbo was removed on allegations of contract inflation by his colleagues while Adolphus Wabara was sent packing as a result of allegation of bribe-for-budget involving N55 million.
Therefore, with the activities of the EFCC in over-drive, granting the request the way it was granted came to Sunday Vanguard as gratifying but… .
The snag is that the typical dramatic twists and turns of a standard Sunday Interview are missing.
But the facts Sunday Vanguard was able to put together regarding high profile cases being handled by the Commission (See Bottom Strip) more than make up for this, as well as the bluntness of Madam Waziri’s responses.
Both ways, there may be a discount. First is the fact that follow-up questions could not be entertained, just as she, too, could not adequately provide answers as she made Sunday Vanguard understand she “would have loved to if there was ample time”. In all it would make an interesting read.

Excerpts:

What has been the attitude of the  leadership in the country to the anti-corruption battle because in some quarters, there is the feeling that EFCC uses the temperature and temperament of the leadership to seek direction?

The attitude of the leadership in Nigeria has been largely positive and supportive of anti-graft initiatives both at EFCC and in all related sister organisations.

The present government has also thrown a challenge in creating a conducive environment for the war against graft.

The governors and deputies who just left office and who are without immunity, how many have been or are being investigated by the commission or are being slated for trial?

………

Read the response to this question and the full interview in tomorrow’s edition of Sunday Vanguard.