Posted by By Femi Babafemi on
Controversial Senator, Joseph Kennedy Waku has described the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as a monster which must be tamed before it destroys the Nigerian state.
Controversial Senator, Joseph Kennedy Waku has described the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as a monster which must be tamed before it destroys the Nigerian state.
Waku spoke with Daily Sun against the backdrop of the commission's moves against Plateau State Governor, Joshua Dariye and the freezing of the state's accounts through a court order in Lagos.
He said though he was not against the prosecution of any corrupt public official, the way and manner EFCC had been carrying out its functions presented it more as a machine for witch-hunting.
'EFCC is already a monster. It's primary responsibility now is to witch-hunt, engage in selective implementation of justice and this has made it a complete monster.
'Why choose certain governors for selective prosecution?" Waku queries, adding that 'definitely, from all indications, Ribadu, and the commission had been turned into an organ of oppression."
The outspoken senator also criticised the EFCC chairman over his recent statement on former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, describing Ribadu as an overzealous state agent whose mouth knows no bound.
'The boy is overzealous about his position. As you do your work, one expects that you should also show some respect. But as far as Ribadu is concerned, he is the court, investigator and at the same time the prosecutor who delivers judgement even on the pages of newspapers before concluding his investigations," Waku said.
'He is aware that corruption is in different dimensions, one wonders why he is choosing a particular set of people and a particular state for his so-called guided investigation and prosecution."
Waku also said that the EFCC should have done better or should have allayed the fears and concerns of most Nigerians if he takes his drive against corruption into the presidential villa, which he described as the 'headquarters of corruption" in Nigeria.
'He's aware that corruption is in different dimensions for instance, Obasanjo's library is corruption of the highest order. If Obasanjo is carrying out a project of building a multi-billion naira library while in office, why then should he arrest governors who own one or two houses and yet Ribadu cannot see the Obasanjo's corruption-laden library. What kind of corruption are we then fighting? If he wants to do his job properly, he should start from the Villa (Aso Rock)"
He also said that there were more impeachable charges against President Obasanjo than most governors being haunted presently, adding that it is sheer hypocrisy if the commission is busy chasing some while leaving the others.
Also speaking on the freezing of Plateau State government's account, Waku said it was wrong of a judge to do so, noting that 'Dariye is not a state. He's only an individual in the state. Why should any judge freeze the account of a state and by so doing punish millions of innocent citizens? Dariye is not a signatory to the account and so the alleged sin or offence of an individual should not be visited on people of the state. There are better ways to do things."
Though Senator Waku said that the fight against corruption is a crusade that all well-meaning Nigerians must support, he added that this must be done according to the rule of law and not through jungle justice or verbal attacks on individuals and personalities.