RETIRED Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mrs. Faridah Waziri, was yesterday named Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) although in an acting capacity.
Her appointment, announced by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, is with
Mrs. Faridah Waziri new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)immediate effect.
President Umaru Yar�Adua, according to the SGF, also approved the appointment of Mr. Emmanuel Akomaye as acting member/secretary of the commission.
His original tenure expired last month. But yesterday, the President gave his nod that Mr. Akomoye should retain the position in an acting capacity.
Mrs. Waziri had, before her retirement from the Police, headed the Force Criminal Investigations Department. She joined the Police as a recruit in 1965 and rose to the rank of AIG. She retired in 2000 after attaining the mandatory 35 years in service.
The retired AIG is the holder of LLB honours and LLM degrees from the University of Lagos, BL from the Nigerian Law School, M.Sc in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan.
Lamorde back as Director, Operations
Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde who had been acting as EFCC Chairman following the departure of AIG Nuhu Ribadu is reverting to his position as Director of Operations of the organisation.
Mr. Akomaye, the member/secretary, is also a lawyer with varied experience in private legal practice and corporate legal services. He has been with the EFCC since 2003.
Vanguard gathered that Mrs. Waziri will today hold a meeting with staff of the Commission in company of ACP Lamorde.
Waziri�s appointment is in compliance with the EFCC Act 2006, which stipulates that a substantive successor be appointed within six months after the exit of the previous Chairman.
Waziri�s appointment also conforms with Part 1, section 2 of the amended EFCC Act 2006, which stipulates that, �the Chairman shall be a serving or retired member of any government security agency of not below the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police or its equivalent and not possessing anything below 15 years cognate experience.
During Mrs. Waziri�s years as head of the Police anti-fraud unit, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Ibrahim Lamorde served under her.
She has a reputation for being unafraid of pursuing any course she believes in and is well thought of in police circles as well as among lawyers and judges with whom she worked. Author of the popular anti-graft book, Advance Free Fraud, National Security and The Law, she is married to Nigeria�s former Ambassador to Turkey, Alhaji Ajuju Waziri, with whom she has five children.