EFCC: Waziri’s Name Finally Sent to Senate

Why did they skip the process in the first place? And to think she had even gone to resume immeditately. Enjoying illegality meanwhile she is preparing to fight corruption.


EFCC: Waziri’s Name Finally Sent to Senate
From Sufuyan Ojeifo in Abuja, 05.20.2008



President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has sent a letter to the Senate seeking confirmation of retired Assi-stant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Mrs. Farida Mzamber Waziri, as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This followed last Thurs-day’s announcement of Waziri as acting chairman of the Commission by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ambas-sador Baba Gana Kingibe.
Her resumption of duty without confirmation had generated controversy because it was said to have breached the provision of Part 1, Section 2 (3) of the EFCC Act which states that “The Chairman and members of the Commission other than ex-officio members shall be appointed by the President subject to the confirmation of the Senate.”
The Upper House had served notice that it would look at the process to see if the appointment and announcement of Waziri as acting chairman was consistent with the provisions of the Act.
THISDAY gathered yesterday night that an executive communication had already been sent to the Senate nominating Waziri for confirmation as the substantive Chairman of the Commission.
A top presidency source said that the letter was dispatched last Friday to the Senate. All executive communications by the President are usually addressed to the Senate President, Senator David Mark.
The source was confident that the letter, barring last minute changes, would be read on the floor of the Senate this morning by the Senate President under announcement.
Today’s session is the first by the Senate since the Presidency announced Waziri last Thursday as acting chair of the nation’s sleaze watchdog.
The announcement had drawn flaks from some circles, including the National Assembly bordering on procedural breach.
The Benue-born EFCC boss is married to Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Turkey, Ajuji Waziri (a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police) from Gombe State.
When contacted yesterday night, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Information, Senator Ayogu Eze, said he could not confirm if President Yar’Adua’s letter on Waziri was already in the Senate.
Waziri will, upon confirmation by the Upper House, replace the former Chairman of the Commission, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, on substantive basis.
Ribadu is currently on a study leave at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru, near Jos.
Eze had stated at the weekend that the Senate would not give a stamp of authority to abuse of procedure and rule of law if it was found out that the Presidency did not do the right thing in the appointment of Waziri.
He had responded to a question on the likely step the Senate would take in the light of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Sola Akinyede’s letter to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, drawing his attention to the breach of provision of the EFFC Act in the appointment of an acting Chairman for the Commission.