Calls For Ouster of EFCC Boss Are Very Mischievous

New York, August 29, 2006—Following the increasing and recent calls for the ouster of the Chairman of Nigerian crimes and anti-corruption agency Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Nuhu Ribadu; Africans In America, Inc. wish to state the following:

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria is a relatively new agency having been established in 2003.

The task of crime-fighting assigned to the agency is Herculean and Himalayan, and almost alien to the psyche of average Nigeria, which has been consistently rated as one of the most corrupt country in the whole wide world by Transparency International, an organ co-founded by the current President of Nigeria, and a claim most Nigerians do not dispute.

In a way, the task assigned to the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is like going against the wind (entrenched popular norm that corruption and crimes is normal way of doing business).

It is our belief that as a new idea, concept and initiative, the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has started with a micro method of securing test cases. It is our belief that, the EFCC is currently doing a test run on the imminent macro war against corruption in Nigeria.

Though it may appear that the EFCC has not thrown every corrupt government officials, their cronies and associates into prison for looting Nigeria silly, it is our belief that it is methodologically and programmatically working its way there.

The EFCC is already making historic marks in the battle against corruption in Nigeria. The EFCC has drawn a line on the corrupt sand of Nigeria. The EFCC recently arrested a lawyer that defrauded us despite his boast of numerous connections with EFCC agents. Once invited arrested (a.k.a. ‘arrested’) by the EFCC, the attorney refunded part of the money he defrauded us despite his threats to expose his dealings with some EFCC agents.

Let’s constructively criticize the anti-corruption agency so it will improve and get better at what it is already doing very well.

Instead of calling for the ouster of the effective Chairman, he should be encouraged to expand the agency’s dragnet once the agency has enhanced its capacity to take on wider battles.

Therefore, recently increasing calls for the ouster of the effective founding Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu are unprogressive and very mischievous.