By Oscarline Onwuemenyi, Abuja
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri has welcomed the recent denunciation of the plea bargain justice system by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher.

Waziri, who was answering questions from journalists when stakeholders in the Nigerian movie industry, popularly known as Nollywood, paid her a visit in her office in Abuja, noted that the Commission had always stood against the use of plea bargains in the adjudication of cases.

She said, “We have always said it that the plea bargain is not part of our jurisprudence; it is indeed strange to our judicial system. The Commission has made it clear since we came in that we do not hope to go that way as it is not only illegal but also a miscarriage of justice. Personally, I am not crazy about plea bargain.”

According to her, “the only time plea bargain was applied in the prosecution of corruption cases was primarily in a desperate bid to secure some sort of pittance in the face of apparent miscarriage of justice.

“At that stage, everything was going to be lost and we had to use plea bargain to get some of the stolen property. Since then, however, everyone can see that we were not satisfied with the situation and we have since initiated fresh charges against the former governor and his associates, including some of his family members,” Waziri stated.

On another directive by the CJN to judges to henceforth conclude all corruption cases filed and/or pending in their courts within six months, the EFCC boss said it was a move in the right direction and would be a great boost to the fight against corruption in the country.

Waziri added that if the directive is strictly adhered to by judges, it will not only draw to a close the over 75 high profile cases and 1500 others it is presently prosecuting in courts with the attendant effect of reshaping the nation’s anti-graft war but will equally reposition the country’s reputation in the international community.

Waziri also expressed her profound gratitude to the CJN “for being courageous to issue the directive at this critical period in the process of nation building,” adding that it is a confirmation that the judiciary is responding to the yearnings of the citizenry.

According to her, “this directive apparently tallies with the objective of the campaign for the creation of special courts to fast track the trial of corruption cases which the EFCC chairman has vigorously pursued since 2008 in the interest of the nation’s socio-economic and political development.

“In response to this development, the Commission is not only ready to prove its cases in all matters it has filed in court, but its chairman has equally issued an immediate directive to put some accused persons and suspects in these matters under strict surveillance. “

to foil any attempt of escape by those who believe their prosecution will never come to an end in their life time.

“The Commission will also want to enjoin all citizens to show greater interest in these cases henceforth with a view to ensure that all stakeholders are put on their toes and report any plot to escape justice.”

She added that while the Commission remains committed to the successful implementation of the CJN’s directive in the interest of justice and the overall interest of the nation, it enjoins all defence counsel in graft cases to see this development as also serving the interest of their clients as justice delayed is justice denied.

Meanwhile, the EFCC Chairman has called for a concerted effort in the fight against piracy in entertainment, even as she points out that piracy remains a very serious economic crime that has the potential to wipe out progress in the nation’s entertainment industry.

According to her, “Piracy is a very serious economic crime, and it does not only affect practitioners in the industry but everyone, big or small, rich or poor, because we all are partakers in the products of the industry.

“The EFCC has been working with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to fight this crime, but we have realised that we need to do more in order to completely eradicate this menace to the nation’s booming entertainment and creative industry.”

She disclosed that the Commission was in the process of engaging stakeholders including producers, scriptwriters, actors and marketers in Nollywood to produce films that are aimed at awakening the consciousness of Nigerjas at home and abroad to the effects of corruption in the society.