Faridaw Waziri
No 10 Porto Novo Street
The scams began soon after Mrs. Waziri assumed office, the writers say, alleging an “extortionist committee headed by Mohammed A Bako” that the EFCC chairperson set up which negotiated huge takings “in excess of 35%” for cheques recovered before she assumed office that were awaiting collection.
“Our investigation revealed that those who refused to part with any bribe compelled EFCC to discount their cheques with the issuing bank,” the petition says.
An important element in Mrs. Waziri’s approach to her job is the Anti-Corruption Revolution Campaign (ANCOR), through which she has sought to portray herself as being a forthright and dogged crusader. Indeed, according to the Public Accountability League, Mrs. Waziri has spent over N700 million on each of the ANCOR launches in Lagos and Abuja. It observes, however, “This was never provided for in either the 2008 or 2009 EFCC budgets,” and “the items used in the events never passed through due process as they were never advertised for.”
Turning to the bank reform programme initiated by the Central Bank governor, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, the group also alleges that Mrs. Waziri negotiated 10% from the banks as administrative fees for funds recovered. “Where are the monies recovered from bank debtors?” the group asks. “And how much commission did she charge these banks?”
The group also raises questions about Mrs. Waziri’s acquisition of property, alleging that since her assumption of office at the EFCC, she has bought several homes in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and Dubai.
Among the more stunning of the allegations, the group writes as follows: “Waziri has since February 2009 been receiving the sum of N50 million monthly from Intercontinental Bank Plc, N20 million monthly from Access Bank and NI0 million monthly from Skye Bank Plc. These monies, represent interests accruing to the over N300 billion recovered looted funds including the N17 billion from former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, placed as fixed deposits in these commercial banks by the EFCC. These funds, were supposed to be placed in the federation account instead of these commercial banks.”
The full text of the petition is as follows:
Fraud In EFCC- Farida Waziri's Penchant For Negotiated Commission On Recovered Funds
We are writing to intimate you of the massive fraud going on in the EFCC since Mrs Farida Waziri took over as its Chairman. This fraud has been ongoing but has reached a crescendo since the recovery of debts for the failed banks. When Mrs took over at the EFCC, she inherited several cheques of funds recovered by her predecessor which were not disbursed to the beneficiaries. On assumption of office, Mrs Waziri advertised that beneficiaries of the cheques should come forward to claim their recovered funds. Mrs Waziri immediately set up an extortionist committee headed by Mohammed A Bako. This group negotiated and collected on behalf of Mrs Farida Waziri in excess of 35% for funds recovered before beneficiary’s cheques were released. Several beneficiaries reluctantly parted with these commissions while those who rebuffed are yet to receive their funds. Our investigation revealed that those who refused to part with any bribe compelled EFCC to discount their cheques with the issuing bank. These banks were quick to accept EFCC request just to remain in their good books thereby violating laid down procedure by paying cash to EFCC for a cheque that belongs to another individual or company. These funds end up in the coffers of Mrs Farida Waziri. This practice has been ongoing and has reached an alarming proportion in the recent recovery of loans from bank defaulters. Mrs Waziri negotiates for 10% from banks as administrative fee for all funds recovered. Banks have not been able to complain due to threat and intimidation from the Waziri led EFCC. Most debtors like Henry Imasekha, Peter Ololo etc have parted with several millions to Mrs Farida Waziri.
We are attaching EFCC recovery list inherited by Farida Waziri. The list contains case file Nos. Exhibit Nos, Date Cheque/Draft was issued, Issuing Bank/Beneficiary, Amount and investigation Team.
In the recovery list No 60. A bank draft of N200million was issued to Delta State Government, List No. 71. A draft of N300 million in favour of Delta State Government and List No 83. for N200million in favour of Delta State Government totaling N700 million.
Mr. Acting President, please ask Mrs Farida Waziri how she disbursed the N700million due to Delta State Government. What role did James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan play in this disbursement? How much did she make from the N700million?
How much percentage did she collect from companies like Nipco Ltd. and Jugi Mann International Ltd. who protested the extortion of Farida Waziri.
Where are the monies recovered from bank debtors? And how much commission did she charge these banks.
Mr. Acting President, you just inaugurated the code of conduct bureau to look into the assets declaration of civil servants, can you please ask Mrs Farida Waziri to present her asset declaration form when she took over and her assets to date both in Nigeria, UK and Dubai.
Since taking over as EFCC chairman in 2008, Mrs Farida Waziri has bought several properties both in Nigeria and the United Kingdom and Dubai. She bought from the FCDA a five bedroom detached house for N50.4 million at No. 10 Port Novo Crescent Wuse 2 Abuja by Red Cross office. She recently moved into the said 10 Port Novo crescent Wuse 2. This house is valued for over N450 million.
Mrs Waziris penchant to amass properties in Abuja continued unabated, She applied for properties with the FCT and it was approved immediately by then Minister Umar Modibbo whom she was investigating.
Waziri's Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) was offered to her the next day. The C of 0 read that she was allocated Plot 1460 of 25 Trent River Street, Maitama, Abuja with file number 60219 in Cadastral Zone, B06 of MABUSHI.
However, her plot soon assume a game of hide-and-seek. According to a source within FCT who knew about the transaction, Waziri and the former minister suspected that people were aware of the land allocated to her. Waziri, then, arranged with the FCT to change the ownership of her land. On October 13th 2008, the Federal Capital Territory Administration Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) wrote her a "withdrawal letter" titled "Notice of Withdrawal of Right of Occupancy", the short letter, addressed to Mr. Farida Mzamber Waziri, stated that her Right of Occupancy to Plot 1460 within B06 Mabushi was revoked by "DISCRETION BY AUTHORITY." The letter listed the Director of Development Control, Director Legal, and Director "URP" as the source of the letter.( Attached)
Two days after the revocation, the same plot was allocated to Waziri's daughter, Zainab Naomi Salawu. The same plot was now assigned a new file number GO 60167. In an attempt to hide the exact identity of the re-allocated land, FCT Officials gave the address as 2 River Trent Crescent, Maitama - Abuja.
Mrs. Waziri sent Mohammed A. Bako, the EFCC protocol officer, to sign a letter accepting the land. Bako, who signed on behalf of Zainab Naomi Salawu, gave his EFCC Office Phone Number 09-6441118, and Mobile Number: 0803-325-5447, his E-mail Address: abako@efccnigeria.org as well as his home address in Karu Phase 1 Area of Abuja.
Mrs Farida Waziri received a Mercedes Benz GL 450 gift from Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom to stop ongoing investigation against her and Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu on billions of Naira stolen by the duo from Akwa Ibom state coffers.
Waziri has since February 2009 been receiving the sum of N50 million monthly from Intercontinental Bank Plc,N20 million monthly from Access Bank and NI0 million monthly from Skye Bank Plc, These monies, represent interests accruing to the over N300 billion recovered looted funds including the N17 billion from former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, placed as fixed deposits in these commercial banks by the EFCC. These funds, were supposed to be placed in the federation account instead of these commercial banks.
Waziri has spent over N700 million each in the ANCOR launch, in Lagos and Abuja. This was never provided for in either the 2008 or 2009 EFCC budgets. All the items used in the events never passed through due process as they were never advertised for.
Mr. Acting President, we will avail you of more information and title deeds of the properties recently acquired by Mrs Farida Waziri in London. We have a very big surprise for you Mr. President, so that you will see the nature of woman that is heading one of the most important institutions in Nigeria.
It will be worthwhile if the fight against corruption is to be fought, let it be by people of integrity.
We wish you well Mr. Acting President and the world is watching you and commend your efforts in the sack of former INEC chairman, IWU.
Yours Sincerely,
For: PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY LEAGUE
JOSEPH AMADI
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