Constance Ikokwu and Ali M. Ali in Abuja
25 August 2008
Washington, DC — Unlike in the past when the government of United States gave unconditional support to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), THISDAY can report today that the anti-graft agency will now receive conditional co-operation from the American government.
The US government has been very instrumental to the success of the commission - giving technical and infrastructural support, with the training of the commission's officers and favourable intelligence reports on Nigeria in the international financial community.
An official of the US government told THISDAY in Washington, DC, that America's continued support for Nigeria's war against corruption would now be based on the progress made by the relevant institutions in prosecuting all forms of corruption, "particularly at the highest level".
The US was responding to questions posed by THISDAY on whether the country's technical and financial assistance and training programmes offered to the EFCC during the last administration would remain the same, in the light of credibility questions facing the agency now headed by Mrs Farida Waziri.
According to a statement sent to the newspaper by State Department Spokesperson, Bill Strassberger, US's "continued support is contingent upon the success of those institutions, and success will be measured by the results of their work."
The presence of international credit cards in Nigeria, such as Mastercard and Visa, as well as the continuous certification of Nigeria as a country actively combating money laundering and proceeds from crime are some of the benefits of the US support for the anti-graft agency.
The work of the agency has also been central to the confidence in the Nigerian financial sector, with many banks and companies now fully integrated into the international community and instruments such as Letter of Credit (LC) now readily available to them, in addition to favourable ratings by global agencies.
However, the sidelining of the ex-Chairman of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, which many commentators have attributed to political undercurrents, may have dampened the morale of US and its allies in the anti-corruption fight in Nigeria.
The statement continued: "The United States reiterates its continued strong endorsement of Nigerian institutions - not individuals - in their investigation and prosecution of all forms of corruption, especially at the highest levels. In this regard, the United States is maintaining its support of efforts to strengthen Nigeria's anti-corruption institutions."
Over 40 operatives of the commission were trained by US and its allies are regarded as the best in Africa in terms of capacity - although many of them have now been redeployed from the commission following the gale of redeployment after the removal of Ribadu.
US and UK, being the centres of financial investigations globally, are very critical to the success of EFCC as it seeks to track looted funds from Nigeria in Western countries.
The US government refrained from commenting on the demotion of Ribadu and disagreement on whether or not he should be recalled from his course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).
It reiterated its backing of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's vision for the country.
"On numerous occasions, the United States has underscored its backing of the goals of President Yar'Adua's seven-point reform agenda. One of the central pillars in this program is the fight against corruption, which is taking place through such institutions as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission," it said.
The EFCC since the sudden removal of Ribadu has been under pressure to prove it is capable of continuing the war against graft. Several international organisations that supported the agency during the last administration are watching with keen interest as events unfold.
The dramatic demotion of Ribadu and 139 other police officers on grounds they were improperly promoted is the latest in a web of intrigues that have engulfed the former anti-corruption crusaders.
Meanwhile, EFCC has dismissed 11 officials for forgery and other fraudulent acts. Of the 11 dismissed officials, three were junior staff, four cadet officers, three senior staff and one management officer.
According to a statement by the commission signed by Mr. Femi Babafemi, its spokesman, the affected officers were shown the way out between August 2007 and August 2008.
Forgers in the employ of the agency were reportedly discovered after routine investigations carried out on them to verify the authenticity of their academic credentials which were fraught with discrepancies.
Those dismissed on account of certificate forgery were Adamu Samson, Usman Muhammed, Muhammed Umar, Collins Nwachukwu, Shola Pedro, Olatunji Oluwakeri, Adaka James, Akinwamide Oluwaseyi, Mohammed Maina, and David Ibhawoh.
While the 10 officers dismissed on account of forgery were lucky to have gone without prosecution, Waziri has however directed that Mr Davies Idrisu Ibrahim who was arrested in Lagos last week for allegedly conniving with others to defraud a suspect should not only be dismissed but should be prosecuted. He is expected to be charged to court this week.
"She gave the directive for the prosecution of the officer not only as a break from the past when such officers were allowed to go without trial but more importantly to send a strong signal to those who may want to use the name of the commission to commit crime," the statement added.
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For God's sake, can we call a spade a spade? The commander in Chief and the Federal police dept. last year lied to people, Parliament and the whole world and Nigerian people that Ribadu is only going for a police course and he'll be back. Where is he now... Thank God, the still spare his life without incinerating news like "armed robbery in the barracks" Any question to Mr President?
If the Nigerian govt (Presidency, Congress and Courts)are not ashamed of returning to their #1 ranking as the most corrupt govt in the world that OBJ's administration beat down to #70, perhaps Yar should have sympathy for honest Nigerian nationals abroad who are being generalised as being corrupt as well - guilty by association for carrying the Nigerian passport and nationality. Every day we carry this open wound of shame due to your corrupt administration and 419 kingpin now serving as "honorable" Congressman. I agree that not every Congressional member should be tar with the same brush but their silence… [Read Full Text]
This is a ruse. Let people read between the lines to decipher the facts. A LITTLE MORE WE SHALL SEE!