HRW: Nigeria’s Anti-Graft Agency Weak

Posted August 25th, 2011 at 2:40 pm (UTC-5)
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A global rights group says Nigeria's anti-corruption agency has done little to stop powerful politicians who are corrupt.

In a report released on Thursday, Human Rights Watch said Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, known as the EFCC, has been ineffective because of mismanagement, internal corruption and political interference.

The U.S.-based group criticized the EFCC for convicting just four nationally known political figures since it was established in 2003.

The report also cites allegations of graft and mismanagement against the current EFCC chairwoman, Farida Waziri.

Human Rights Watch called on the Nigerian government to strengthen its anti-corruption efforts.

President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed to weed out corruption, a deep-rooted problem in Nigeria's government and politicians for decades.

The anti-graft group Transparency International has repeatedly Nigeria as one of the world's most corrupt countries.