Posted by By MURPHY GANAGANA, Abuja on
The presidency on Thursday announced the appointment of a retired Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Mrs. Farida Waziri, as the new chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), effectively pulling the rug off the feet of the former helmsman, Nuhu Ribadu, who is currently on a course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.
The presidency on Thursday announced the appointment of a retired Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Mrs. Farida Waziri, as the new chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), effectively pulling the rug off the feet of the former helmsman, Nuhu Ribadu, who is currently on a course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.
Daily Sun had on Monday, January 7, 2008 exclusively reported that some top presidency officials and big guns in security and intelligence circles had recommended Mrs Waziri to President Umar Musa Yar'Adua as a neutral candidate that can keep the anti-corruption fire aflame.
A statement issued yesterday in Abuja and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, said President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has also approved the appointment of the present Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Emmanuel Akomaye, whose tenure expired in April 2008, to continue in the same office. Both appointments, which take effect from Thursday May 15, 2008, are, however, in acting capacity.
Mrs Waziri, who hails from Benue State, started her career in the Nigeria Police Force as a recruit in 1965, and rose through the ranks to become an Assistant Inspector General of police (AIG). She retired in the year 2000 after the mandatory 35 years of service.
While in service, she enrolled and obtained LL.B (Hons.) and LL.M degrees from the University of Lagos. She also holds a BL from the Nigeria Law School, as well as LL.M in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan. While in the police force, Mrs. Waziri attended the National War College, Abuja .
She is said to have gotten many favourable recommendations for the job because she headed the police Anti-Fraud Unit between 1996 and 1999 during which Ribadu and the EFCC Director of Operations, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde were trained by her.
Widely described as a tough and disciplined anti-graft crusader while in service, Mrs Waziri was also said to have been considered so that a tough woman in the mould of NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Dora Akunyili, can equally head the EFCC.
Speaking on her consideration for the EFCC job, outspoken Senator, Joseph Waku and retired police commissioner, Abubakar Tsav, had said in an earlier interview with Daily Sun that with Waziri, the anti-corruption war in the country could only get tougher.
According to Tsav, "she is a good, honest and upright officer who possesses two degrees at Masters level (LLM and International Relations). She headed the fraud unit and Ribadu served directly under her. She came into the police with primary six certificate and left with two masters degrees.
"She is straight forward and tough and has the attributes of Prof Dora Akunyili; she is a good candidate."
Waku on his part said, "Ribadu's toughness will be a child's play to what Mrs Waziri will do in EFCC if she is eventually appointed to head the place because she trained Ribadu and some of the boys with him today.
" I think her person will be the only way to reassure Nigerians that Yar'Adua's government is still very much committed to the anti-graft war because I won't deceive you, the woman is tough and of high integrity, she can't be compromised by anyone or anything."
She is married to Ambassador Adamu Ajuji Waziri from Gombe State and has children.
Interestingly, Akomaye, an experienced lawyer who is vast in both private and corporate legal practice, has been with the EFCC since its inception in 2003.