Watch Your Mouth, Respect Your Age, Waziri Replies Obasanjo

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, Dr (Mrs) Farida
Waziri,OFR has reminded former President
Olusegun Obasanjo that ability to be used to
witch hunt political enemies in the rabid pursuit
of a third term agenda has never been part of the
qualifications for appointment as chairman of the
anti-graft agency.
Waziri stated this while reacting to publications
on allegations made against her by the former
president. Obasanjo had been quoted as saying
that Waziri was not qualified to head the EFCC
when she was appointed chairman of the
Commission.
According to the statement personally signed by
Waziri “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,
blantant 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 Metpolice. 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’. 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. 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 Metpolice 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.
“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 Master degree in Law and another
Master 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”