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Waziri
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Former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman
Mrs. Farida Waziri threatened yesterday to open up on ex-President
Olusegun Obasanjo, if he does not mind his words.
She told Obasanjo that those who live in glass houses do not throw
stones – in a robust defence of her integrity, following Obasanjo’s
allegation that ex-Governor James Ibori head-hunted her to lead the
commission.
Mrs. Waziri said it was “illogical and nonsensical” for anyone to
continue to insinuate that Ibori had a hand in her appointment.
She said the allegation was “one of the lies Obasanjo’s sit-tight pawns cooked to stop my appointment as EFCC chairman in 2008.”
Mrs. Waziri, who took on Obasanjo in a personal statement in Abuja, said Obasanjo does not have the qualifications she obtained.
She said with a Master’s Degree in Law and another in Strategic Studies, she was qualified to head the EFCC.
The statement said: “My attention has been drawn to a number of
allegations made against me by Mr. Obasanjo. One of such was the alleged
involvement of former Delta State Governor James Ibori in my
appointment.
“While I hold the office of a Head of State, either serving or
retired, in the highest esteem, I will like to put on record for the
umpteenth time that this is totally unfounded, blatant lie and arrant
falsehood.
“It is, therefore, worrisome when a man who has been twice a Nigerian
head of state can descend so low to peddle falsehood. The truth is that
I never met Ibori in my life, until after months in office as chairman
of the EFCC when I used to see him in the Presidential Villa.
“It is on record today that I initiated the investigation that drove
Ibori into the waiting hands of Interpol and Met Police. As such, it is
illogical and nonsensical for anyone to continue to insinuate that Ibori
has a hand in my appointment.
“I remember this was one of the lies Obasanjo’s sit-tight pawns cooked to stop my appointment as EFCC chairman in 2008.
“On the issue of qualifications raised by Obasanjo, the qualification
for appointment as chairman of the Commission as stipulated in its
Establishment Act says that the chairman shall ‘be a serving or retired
member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below
the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent; and possess
not less than 15 years cognate experience’.
“The late President Yar’adua did not have to alter the Establishment Act when he was appointing me unlike what Obasanjo did.
“Again for the records, I served in the Nigeria Police Force for 35
years and got to the pinnacle of my career before my appointment as EFCC
chairman.”
Mrs. Waziri said she had never been a pushover in her career and asked Obasanjo to revisit her records.
“If Obasanjo’s real age has not blurred his memory, I will like to
remind him that I was a Commissioner of Police, Admin Force CID, CP
General Investigations, CP Anti-fraud, CP X Squad, CP Police Special
Fraud Unit where I secured the first conviction in a case of Advance Fee
Fraud in Nigerian history.
“These are all prime investigative organs of the Nigeria Police where
I related with other law enforcement agencies, including the FBI,
across the world. I must place on record that at SFU, I did not only
relate with FBI, Interpol and Met police among others, we carried out
joint operations at different times on a number of cases. I have also
led the Nigerian delegation to the Interpol headquarters in France.”
Mrs. Waziri warned Obasanjo against statements which can mislead the public.
She added: “To further expose the height of mischief in the
allegations, the past and present chairmen of the EFCC have both worked
under me, yet someone can open his mouth to say I am not qualified to
head the same agency.
“This is in addition to my educational qualifications, such as a
first degree in Law, a Masters degree in Law and another Masters degree
in Strategic Studies. I doubt if Obasanjo himself can boast of this
level of educational qualifications.
“I will also like to remind Obasanjo that no chairman of the EFCC has
till date beaten my records in terms of investigation of high profile
cases, prosecution, conviction and recovery.
“I will like to warn that those who live in glass house don’t throw
stones and, as such, Obasanjo should not allow me open up on him.
Respectable elder statesmen act and speak with decorum.”
