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New EFCC boss, Waziri, stood surety for Akume - Accused of being consultant to Ibori, Marwa, others By Our Reporter Sunday, June 1, 2008 THE new chairman proposed by President Umaru Yar’ Adua to head the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, stood surety for the former governor of Benue State, George Akume, when he was charged for corruption, Sunday Tribune can reveal. advertisement As controversy rages over the appropriateness of the replacement of the foundation chairman of the anti-graft agency, Malam Nuhu Ribadu and the suitability of the nominee, those opposed to Waziri’s appointment, Sunday Tribune, gathered, are concentrating on the upper chamber of the National Assembly, which is currently reviewing her nomination. Our sources revealed that the fact that she stood surety for Akume is being canvassed by opponents as a major disability which makes her unsuitable to be appointed to head the anti-graft agency. Waziri’s nomination is said to be even more unsuitable due to the allegation that the retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) was the consultant to some of the key former governors who have been or are being investigated or prosecuted by the commission for alleged corruption. Those mentioned as Waziri’s former clients include former military administrator of Lagos State, Brig. Gen. Bubar Marwa (rtd.), former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, and a serving governor. It was alleged by those opposed to Waziri’s nomination that as an experienced investigator in the Nigeria Police, she consulted for powerful elements in the ruling PDP who were under investigation by the commission, some of whom are still on trial, by using her contacts in the commission and elsewhere to advise her clients on how to proceed with their defence. She is alleged to have earned fat consultancy fees from these prominent men. Anti-Waziri elements claim that on the basis of her alleged consultancy work for these men, she should not be confirmed by the Senate. Sunday Tribune sources at the Senate hinted that some of the Senators have given a sympathetic hearing to the position of the anti-Waziri campaigners. However, a source close to Waziri denied that she was a consultant to those being investigated for corruption. The source disclosed that although given her experience and contacts within the security network in Nigeria, some of her friends and associates come to her for advice and assistance in matters relating to the police and related security agencies, there was never a time she specifically intervened on behalf of those who were under investigation by the anti-graft agency. However, the source declined to disclaim Waziri’s role as a surety for Akume. Sunday Tribune further gathered that contrary to the story that Waziri trained both Ribadu and the acting EFCC boss, Larmode, and is thus qualified to head the Commission, it was only Larmode who worked under her at the Serious Fraud Investigation Unit of the police, because he was trained as an investigator, while Ribadu did not work under her, because, as a lawyer, he was a prosecutor in the police. However, a source in the Villa stated that this issue is of no significance in the appointment of Waziri, since the president was convinced of her capacity to execute his “new” policy at the EFCC. The appointment of Waziri which is said to have been influenced by many powerful anti-Ribadu politicians, including a serving governor who has been investigated by the Commission which is waiting to put him on trial at the expiration of his term in office, a former prominent aide of President Olusegun Obasanjo who was known as the former president’s “fixer”, a former governor currently standing trial for corruption and Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Michael Aandoaaka, whose appointment was also said to have been influenced by the same anti-Ribadu, anti-EFCC elements. It will be recalled that Waziri’s appointment was opposed by the Senate which asked the woman to vacate the office pending its approval of her appointment by the president. She has since appeared before the Senate. Those who are opposed to her on the score of her alleged involvement with those being investigated or being tried by the EFCC have vowed to ensure the Senate does not confirm her appointment.