Senate confirms Waziri as EFCC chair, amidst all the noise-making
Abuja - Amidst all the controversies and noise surrounding the appointment and subsequent confirmation hearing by the upper legislative body (Senate), Mrs. Farida Waziri was yesterday confirmed as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following the Senate’s endorsement of Committee report on her screening for the office.
Her confirmation, alongside five other nominees as members of the commission, has undergone condemnation of the mudslinging and ethnic coloration triggered by her nomination.
The only possible hiccup that was subsequently overcome was the protest by some Senators that Mr. Emmanuel Akomaye, the nominee for member/secretary had not exhausted his first term of office and should be dropped from confirmation. The move initiated by Senator Kanti Bello was upturned by counter arguments by Senator Effiong Bob (PDP, Akwa Ibom North-East) who said the nominee had exhausted his term.
Following the presentation of the report by Senator Sola Akinyede, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Senator Manzo Anthony (PDP, Taraba North) seconded the presentation of the report with a commendation to the Committee and the Senate leadership for sidestepping “provocations and innuendoes” that came the way of the Senate prior to the screening.
Similar sentiments also came from Senators Mujitalab Mallam (PDP, Jigawa South West), Osita Izunaso (PDP, Imo), Abubakar Lado (PDP, Katsina South) among others.
Senator Maina Maji Lawan (ANPP, Borno North) in his contribution, however, called on the Senate to move on from the controversy generated by the nomination of Mrs. Waziri, saying it was no surprise as he observed that “controversy had become the short-title of the EFCC.
“I want to also observe that controversy is another short title of EFCC since the EFCC was introduced. The whole thing has been trailed with controversy and I am happy that the Senate in all those circumstances, did go through the controversies and uncertainties with our heads very high and our thinking caps on,” Lawan said as he urged the Senate to move on.
Senator Olurunnimbe Mamora (AC, Lagos East) in his submission picked up the major issues trailing the nomination, saying that on all points that the issues had been successfully resolved.
“The first issue is whether or not a vacancy exists and as far as I am concerned a vacancy exists following the body language of Mr. President. During the last Senate, a letter was presented but we never acted on it and the letter was never re-presented.
“Secondly, the issue of whether the nominee stood surety for somebody and that has been confirmed that she didn’t stand surety for anybody, so there is no need to hide anything,” Senator Mamora said before he endorsed her nomination. In her endorsement of the nomination, Senator Zainab Kure described the coming of Mrs. Waziri at the EFCC as a landmark.
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