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Nigeria's anti-corruption chief Farida Waziri sacked | Nigeria's anti-corruption chief Farida Waziri sacked |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Nigeria's President, Goodluck Jonathan, has sacked the head of the country's anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). | Nigeria's President, Goodluck Jonathan, has sacked the head of the country's anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). |
No reason was given by the president's office for Farida Waziri's dismissal. | No reason was given by the president's office for Farida Waziri's dismissal. |
Her predecessor at the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, was removed midway through his term in 2007 not long after Umaru Yar'Adua became president. | Her predecessor at the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, was removed midway through his term in 2007 not long after Umaru Yar'Adua became president. |
Rights groups have been critical of the agency, accusing it of being under the influence of politicians. | Rights groups have been critical of the agency, accusing it of being under the influence of politicians. |
Nigeria has been plagued by allegations that its wealth has been used for corrupt purposes since the oil boom of the 1970s. | Nigeria has been plagued by allegations that its wealth has been used for corrupt purposes since the oil boom of the 1970s. |
Ms Waziri's deputy, Ibrahim Lamorde, has been appointed by the president to head the commission. | Ms Waziri's deputy, Ibrahim Lamorde, has been appointed by the president to head the commission. |
'Trial by headlines' | 'Trial by headlines' |
EFCC spokesman Femi Babafemi told the AP news agency that Ms Waziri still had at least another year to serve. | EFCC spokesman Femi Babafemi told the AP news agency that Ms Waziri still had at least another year to serve. |
The EFCC was set up in 2002, three years after the end of military rule in Nigeria. | The EFCC was set up in 2002, three years after the end of military rule in Nigeria. |
The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Lagos says its record has been at best mixed. | The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Lagos says its record has been at best mixed. |
In that time, it has prosecuted 30 politicians, of whom only four have been convicted and none are now in prison. | In that time, it has prosecuted 30 politicians, of whom only four have been convicted and none are now in prison. |
Some say it has chosen its targets selectively with politics in mind. | Some say it has chosen its targets selectively with politics in mind. |
In August, US-based Human Rights Watch said the EFCC's failures were also the fault of Nigeria's political system which continued "to reward rather than punish corruption". | In August, US-based Human Rights Watch said the EFCC's failures were also the fault of Nigeria's political system which continued "to reward rather than punish corruption". |
Our correspondent says critics of Ms Waziri believe the commission has lost energy and vigour during her time in office - and that instead of using the courts she has resorted to "trial by headlines". | Our correspondent says critics of Ms Waziri believe the commission has lost energy and vigour during her time in office - and that instead of using the courts she has resorted to "trial by headlines". |
He says some have even accused her of corruption - an allegation she has always denied. | He says some have even accused her of corruption - an allegation she has always denied. |
In reaction to the sacking, Ezenwa Nwagu, vice-president of Transparency In Nigeria, said it was up to the president who to "hire and fire". | In reaction to the sacking, Ezenwa Nwagu, vice-president of Transparency In Nigeria, said it was up to the president who to "hire and fire". |
"I do not bother about the personalities around these institutions," he told the BBC Hausa Service. | |
"It is more important to talk about how we strengthen them so that whoever is appointed can have a strong organisation that is capable of dealing with the issues." | "It is more important to talk about how we strengthen them so that whoever is appointed can have a strong organisation that is capable of dealing with the issues." |