Ordinarily, Icheokudotcom would not care a hoot to spend a minute on this Olusegun Obasanjo's hatchet-man. Some school of thought are even saying that Mallam Nuhu Ribadau deserves all that is being thrown at him as he is being made to taste his own brew. Payment in kind that is? Remember the EFCC under Ribadu and how everyone that disagreed with Olusegun Obasanjo were hounded down with one charge of corrupt practice after another; while at the same time he, Ribadu was proclaiming Olusegun Obasanjo and all that were loyal to him innocent of all allegations. In some cases he even went out of his way to declare them innocent of all allegations without investigating them. Sometimes he made concerted effort to shut down substantive allegations of apparent corruption against members of Olusegun Obasanjo's inner circle. Today, there has been an about turn and the yesterday's hit-man is today's hounded racoon. Turning of tide, may be, but which Nigerian understands the fleeting nature of power? None! Anyway, Icheokudotcom is not here to act as defense attorney for Nuhu Ribadu as we could care-less if he jumps off the bridge or puts a bullet through his own brain. Yes, we are here only to comment on the difficulty of fighting corruption in Nigeria and using Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as a test-case. Nigeria is a land where virtually everyone is corrupt, criminals waiting for opportunity and time to strike, land of election riggers, 419 practitioners and everything despicable. Yes, we say this emphantically and with factual empir
ical bases to back our assertion. For a little illustration, a former head of the Nigerian Police Force, Inspector General Tarfa Balogun (right) was lead away in handcuffs for corruption. Every past heads of state and government in Nigeria stole so much money from the coffers of Nigeria, that today's dilpadidated condition of all the infrastructures in Nigeria attests to this brigandage, otherwise the over three (3) trillion dollars that accrued to Nigeria since 1970 would have been evident on the ground in Nigeria. (Check out United Arab Emirates and see a government that is truly patriotic and loves her citizens and country). No, there is nothing much to show for it while their overseas bank accounts are bursting and some even own private jets and homes all over the world. Corruption is pandemic and has eaten so deep intoo the body-fabric of the Nigerian society that it has become hopeless, fighting it. Nuhu Ribadu tried to fight corruption in Nigeria but was stopped cold in his tracks by a very corrupt government of Umaru Yar'Adua, whose legitimacy is still subject to litigation in the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Now he is being punished for trying by the Umaru Yar'Adua government which is very corrupt. Umaru Yar'Adua collluded with Olusegun Obasanjo to covet the Nigerian presidency and ever since he got to Aso Rock, has been sleeping on his sick bed while he is suppposed to be on duty. Also his promise of the return to rule of law in Nigeria has since been compromised and it has been the arrest and detention of one journalist after another, one blogger after another, one television house being shut down after another and now an attempt to kill-off Mallam Nuhu Ribadau for daring to fight corruption in Nigeria.
ical bases to back our assertion. For a little illustration, a former head of the Nigerian Police Force, Inspector General Tarfa Balogun (right) was lead away in handcuffs for corruption. Every past heads of state and government in Nigeria stole so much money from the coffers of Nigeria, that today's dilpadidated condition of all the infrastructures in Nigeria attests to this brigandage, otherwise the over three (3) trillion dollars that accrued to Nigeria since 1970 would have been evident on the ground in Nigeria. (Check out United Arab Emirates and see a government that is truly patriotic and loves her citizens and country). No, there is nothing much to show for it while their overseas bank accounts are bursting and some even own private jets and homes all over the world. Corruption is pandemic and has eaten so deep intoo the body-fabric of the Nigerian society that it has become hopeless, fighting it. Nuhu Ribadu tried to fight corruption in Nigeria but was stopped cold in his tracks by a very corrupt government of Umaru Yar'Adua, whose legitimacy is still subject to litigation in the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Now he is being punished for trying by the Umaru Yar'Adua government which is very corrupt. Umaru Yar'Adua collluded with Olusegun Obasanjo to covet the Nigerian presidency and ever since he got to Aso Rock, has been sleeping on his sick bed while he is suppposed to be on duty. Also his promise of the return to rule of law in Nigeria has since been compromised and it has been the arrest and detention of one journalist after another, one blogger after another, one television house being shut down after another and now an attempt to kill-off Mallam Nuhu Ribadau for daring to fight corruption in Nigeria.His vice president Goodluck Jonathan is equally corrupt as no decent man ever makes it to the top through the highly corrupt, shark-infested waters of Nigerian politics. The Senate President David Mark is corrupt and as the then Minister of Communications under Ibrahim Babangida, stole to his greedy heart's delight acquiring a $33 million dollars golf course in Ireland. Mention the speaker of the House of Representatives, Oladimeji Bankole and the ongoing 2.3 billion naira cars scandal readily comes to mind; and he is still presiding over a house which has been alleged to be populated by criminal 419 practitioners. The current head of the police, Inspector General Mike Okilo has yet to prosecute his former boss, the former IG Ehindero who stole over 23 million naira police fund. When you factor in the spiralling out of control armed robbery and other related crimes/vices in Nigeria, without any sign of abatement, then one is forced to concluded that the Nigerian police force is in bed with Nigerian criminal master-minds. The Attorney General, Aandooka's very close relationship with former governor Ibori of Delta State as well as other plainly corrupt former governors is highly instructive as to the lack of appertite to fight corruption in Nigeria. Now the only serious person ever to look directly in the eye of corruption and call it by its name, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is being haunted out of this life. Nigeria it shall not be well with you as no person in the future, knowing the travails currently being underwent by Nuhu Ribadu, will agree to do any serious job, fighting the monster of corruption in Nigeria. Nuhu Ribadu is being made a mockery of just for being brave enough to dare to step unto the toes of some very highly placed and grossly corrupt "sacred-cows" of Nigeria.
The latest incident of humilating Nuhu Ribadu by dragging him out of his commencement venue, says so much about a cabal desperate to take their pound of flesh. This former anti-corruption chief was physically stopped from participating in his graduating ceremony by Umaru YarAdua' thugs, who dragged him out of the hall of his graduation ceremonies. Nuhu Ribadu was dragged out from the Unity Hall of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, where he was seated with his other collegues, waiting to be conferred with the Member of the National Institute (mni). The institute unashamedly, explained that Nuhu Ribadu was too sick to attend the commencement ceremony which Icheokudotcom rebuts and asks, why drag a sickman, who has "recovered" enough to attend his own commencement ceremony, out of the hall? Reacting to this Nuhu Ribadu's latest ordeal in the hands of Umaru Yar'Adua's jackboots, Gani Fawehinmi said that Nuhu Ribadu's travails under the Yar'Adua administration shows that Umaru Yaradua's government has the tendencies of fascism and its profession for the rule of law is a smokescreen and hypocrisy of the worst order.
One other member of Nuhu Ribadu's graduating class who was not allowed to graduate is Mr. Allen Deinbo Briggs. He was accused of stealing a digital camera belonging to one of the course participants while on study-tour in China. Icheokudotcom says, what a country, where a high-up, selected for such a state's policy course, is stealing an ordinary digital camera in far away China? What will happen tomorrow when such a deviant is appointed into an office of trust? Looting unlimited and you ask yourself why Nigeria is still crawling at a perpetual snail speed? It is because the caliber of men and women as this Mr. Allen Briggs are appointed and put in charge of key fiduciary institutions in Nigeria. Instead of making an effort to effect the fortunes of Nigerians, they are busy crafting plans to loot the country's resources and the treasury dry. According to the story, this Mr. Allen Briggs has a very poor mediocre record akin to a rap sheet that was bursting at the seams, at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies where he was working as a Senior Fellow; which led to vociferous protest when he was nominated for the institute's course 30. However being from the same Niger Delta area as the vice president, Jonathan Goodluck, whose office is in charge of the institute, Mr Allen Briggs' way was forcibly cleared for participation in the course 30. The feud generated so much heat that a former acting director general of the Insitute, Yakubu Sankey, lost his job for protesting vehemently against Mr. Allen Briggs unmerited inclusion im the course 30. However, Mr. Allen Briggs went on a course organized tour to China and stole a mere $45 dollar digital camera, culminating to his final denial of graduation.
Icheokudotcom says such sordid story is only possible in a country like Nigeria where a sitting vice president meddles in departmental decisions, twisting and breaking arms as to who goes or participates in a course at an institute. It is only in Nigeria, the land of anything goes where it is ok for dog to eat dog! Even you Vice President Jonathan Goodluck could insert yourself into the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies internal decisions to influence a decision and effect an outcome based on your primodal, parochial ethnic concerns? Little wonder your meteroric rise in Nigerian politics - you play it real down and dirty and if it means ganging up with Olusegun Obasanjo to frame your former boss, DSP Alamieyeseigha, so be it provided you get what you want! Icheokudotcom has always read your unusually quiet demeanour as a cold-calculating, take no prisoner demeanour of ruthless hit-man. Who is now disgraced by your candidate's petty theft? Until you vagabonds in power in Nigeria learn how not to micro-manage every aspect of life in Nigeria, that country can never truly articulate a way forward out of its stagnation.
Icheokudotcom says, Enough of this stupidity! The whole world is watching the macabre dance of corruption and ongoing vindictiveness against Nuhu Ribadu because he dared to fight corruption in Nigeria; as there is no other acceptable reason for his present ordeals. Even the snake Olusegun Obasanjo, whom Nuhu Ribadu dutifully served, has scurried away in hiding and will not come to the defense and/or protection of his former enforcer Nuhu Ribadu, at this his hour of great travails. Finally, irrespective of the subterfuge used by the Umaru Yar'Adua's government for Nuhu Ribadu's current pains, Icheokudotcom says it does not augur well for the image of Nigeria - a country so enmeshed in courruption they will rather hang out to dry anyone who attempts to clean the augean stable of corruption in Nigeria.
Ribadu’s whereabouts unknown
ReplyDelete…NBA, CD, others condemn govt
By OLA AGBAJE
Monday, November 24, 2008
•Nuhu Ribadu
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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The whereabouts of the embattled former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu remained unknown on Sunday as notable professional and human rights groups rose up in condemnation of the security agents assault on him at the Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) graduation ceremony in Kuru, Jos at the weekend.
Confirming to Daily Sun on Sunday that Ribadu’s whereabouts was unknown, his counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) in a telephone conversation said he has been trying to locate him but without success.
“I have been trying to get in touch with him but I have not been able to reach him. I don’t know his whereabouts. I don’t know what they have done with him. I have been trying to get in touch but without success,” he said.
The reported whisking away of Ribadu by security agents has however drew the ire of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) which described the treatment meted out to Ribadu as barbaric in the extreme which lacks both moral and legal justification.
According to a statement signed by the NBA President Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the security agents who participated in the distruption of NIPSS graduation ceremony to assault Ribadu should be brought to book in order to reassure Nigerians that the era of executive lawless was not being established again.
“Indeed, if the Federal Government had any genuine reason to prevent him from attending the programme, the decision should have been conveyed to him and authorities of NIPSS in a civilized manner. The action of the authorities by matching Mr Ribadu out of the hall when the guest were already seated amounted to nothing but barbarism in the extreme,” NBA said.
The statement noted that it has exposed the government and its democratic pretensions while calling on well-meaning Nigerian to join hands with her to confront barbaric ideas under whatever guise.
Citing the rule of law as the cardinal principle of the present administration, NBA wondered why the government has to resort to self-help in view of the fact that matters relating to Ribadu’s demotion are now subject to litigation in court.
“Since the Federal Government under President Umaru Yar’Adua has repeatedly touted the rule of law as its mantra, it should at least make efforts to ensure that all security agents are restrained from engaging in violations of the rights of Nigerians.
On its part, the Campaign for Democracy (CD) while condemning the development warned that nothing untoward should happen to Ribadu.
According to a statement signed by CD President, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, the action was an “over kill by corruption in Nigeria which would not consider any weapon offensive in its fight back against Ribadu who dared to look corruption in the face in Nigeria.”
Bamidele Aturu, leading activist described the development as the act of brigandage and unbridle rascality.
“It should be condemned by all lover of rule of law and freedom,” he said
Now, This is Getting Ridiculous!
ReplyDeleteSimon Kolawole Live!, Email: simonkolawole@thisdayonline.com, 11.23.2008
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Was I surprised that the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was manhandled and physically bundled out of the graduation ceremony of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) yesterday? No. No surprises at all. It wasn’t in any way surprising given the trend of events since May 29, 2007, but I find it quite disturbing that there is no effort to disguise the game plan against Ribadu who, of course, stepped on too many powerful toes in his anti-graft crusade in the last administration. In any case, I was one of his critics, but it has since become very clear to me that there is more to the “revenge mission” and “rule of law” than we initially thought.
A former governor, who usually boasts that “we are now in charge” of Aso Rock, had disclosed the game plan to some journalists earlier. He said Ribadu would be removed as EFCC chairman; then he would be demoted from the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG); next, he would be dismissed from the police force; and, finally, he would be jailed. Everything is on course: at least this government is not slow on this matter. Ribadu was removed unceremoniously as EFCC boss. He was subsequently demoted along with innocent police officers who had to serve as “collateral damage”. And he is now a few weeks away from being dismissed, arrested, tried and jailed for violating “official secrets act” purportedly for being in possession of duplicate copies of reports on the investigations of some former governors.
If I were to advise the government on this “emergency” that has been declared on Ribadu, I would tell them this is getting ridiculous. Some form of decorum needs to be applied in punishing Ribadu for his sins against the Very Important Politicians (VIPs). If they said Ribadu was lawless as EFCC boss, they need to seize the moral high ground by being decent in their revenge mission. Even many of those who hate Ribadu with perfect hatred are now having sympathy for him. I’m beginning to hear people say: “This is getting too much!” This government now runs the risk of creating more sympathisers for Ribadu, which is not their aim in the first place. I think their aim is to humiliate him, and they have done it quite commendably. Removing him as EFCC chairman and demoting him by two ranks are, in my opinion, enough humiliation for him.
This government says it believes in the rule of law and due process, so it should make it a matter of policy to shame Ribadu on this score. Lawlessness seems to be taking over now. The best way to shame Ribadu is to apply rule of law every step of the way. Manhandling him is not rule of law as we know it. The man is in court challenging his demotion, so why resort to physical harassment and intimidation? The man has finished his course at NIPSS, so why not allow him to graduate? Does it mean anything?
NIPSS is not a place where police officers are promoted, so no matter how well Ribadu performs there, he will still remain a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). It is neither a ticket to promotion nor an order for him to be returned to his former position at EFCC. So what is the big deal about graduating at NIPSS? Some even said he was sent out of the ceremony because he was not wearing his police uniform. Is there any rule that says he must wear the uniform on graduation? If there is such a rule, is it not as simple as saying: “Please go and get properly dressed up”? What’s happening to our due process theology?
I got a text from somebody recently who asked me to condemn Ribadu for taking the police to court over his demotion. I said I would never condemn anybody who goes to court to enforce his fundamental rights. The fellow replied that if my employee took me to court, would I not fire him? My reply was direct: my company belongs to me; who owns the Nigeria Police Force? Since when did the Police become somebody’s company and Ribadu his employee? Is Ribadu the first uniformed man to take his employers to court? What’s the big deal about that? And why should a government that says it worships the rule of law victimise someone who goes to court to enforce his rights?
Sometimes I put myself in Ribadu’s position and all I have is pity. What is going on in his mind right now? Regrets for fighting treasury looters so doggedly? Agreed, he got a lot of things wrong. I always remember the Joshua Dariye impeachment saga in anger. I’m still unhappy with the PTDF affair which was purely former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s war against his VP, Atiku Abubakar, and nothing more than that, in my opinion. But I always remember Ribadu more for his good works than anything else. No human being is perfect. I cannot crucify Ribadu for his weaknesses – in so far as he was fighting rogues, not innocent people.
I will always remember Ribadu for good. I will remember him for the billions and billions of naira he recouped from looters and 419 kingpins. I will remember him for challenging those who were converting state allocations to dollars and pound sterling and “exporting” them every month. I will remember him for seizing mansions bought with looted wealth. I will remember him for plugging the loopholes in our international wire transfers. Anytime I travel out and hold my credit cards, I will remember the work of Ribadu for good. If Ribadu dies today, the same charlatans will fill dozens of condolence registers with statements like “This is a monumental loss to Nigeria”; “He meant well, we only disagreed with his style”; “He would have made a good Inspector-General of Police”; and the usual nonsense. This country kills its very best!
Deep in his heart, Ribadu must be regretting serving this country. I have received text messages from people who said the man should have resigned when Obasanjo left and should have picked up a job with an international organisation. They remind me that people like Oby Ezekwesili were very smart to have left with Obasanjo last year; if not they too would be facing persecution for their stance against the enemies of Nigeria’s progress. With the benefit of hindsight, Ribadu too should have left. I think he got a wrong signal from the new president. He must be regretting his decision to stay back. More damaging is the likely attitude of other upright Nigerians who may wish to serve the country in the future. They may just conclude it is not worth the trouble. Our system is designed to idolise characters like the VIPs, the Mike Aondoakaas and the Farida Waziris. The Ribadus and Nasir el-Rufais should go to hell instead. What a country!
This is my advice to respectable Nigerians: if you are offered the position of NNPC GMD, please take it. But if anybody offers you the position of EFCC chairman, run away, run for your life. If you want to do your work with zeal, with love for the country, with intolerance to treasury looting, Ribadu’s fate will befall you one day.
But something else tells me evil shall not always have the upper hand in the affairs of this country. Like a good movie, the bad guys who have looted this country blind – and are now “in charge” – will meet their waterloo someday. Also, Mike Okiro will not be Inspector-General of Police for life; Aondoakaa will not be Attorney-General till eternity; and Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua himself will become former president one day. You can’t bet against that! We’ve seen many IGPs, AGFs and presidents in this country who are powerless today. Nothing lasts forever. And that is a good consolation, isn’t it?
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ReplyDeletePresidency orders release of certificate to Ribadu
ReplyDeleteBy Emma Anya, Sola Adebayo, Tony Amokeodo, John Alechenu and Oluwole Josiah
Published: Tuesday, 25 Nov 2008
For the embattled former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, good news came his way on Monday as the Presidency ordered the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Plateau State, to issue him a certificate for successfully completing the Senior Executive Course 30.
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Former Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
It also directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Yayale, to investigate the circumstances that led to the prevention of Ribadu from graduating from the NIPSS on Saturday.
The Presidency, in a statement by Mr. Ima Niboro, the senior special assistant to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, said the Federal Government was concerned by the treatment meted out to the former EFCC boss.
Ribadu was forced out of the venue of the graduation ceremony by security operatives allegedly acting on the ‘orders from above.’
The operatives were said to have cited his demotion from the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police to Deputy Commissioner of Police as the reason for their action.
The incident attracted condemnations from prominent groups and eminent Nigerians, including the Nigerian Bar Association, the Christian Association of Nigeria, as well as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
But in the statement, the Presidency said, “The Federal Government is concerned about reports that it was involved in the decision to prevent Mallam Ribadu and Mr. Allen Briggs from participating in the graduation ceremony of the NIPSS after successfully completing the Senior Executive Course.
“ For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, the Federal Government wishes to affirm that it gave no such directive that Mallam Ribadu or any other person be barred from the NIPSS graduation.
“Consequently, the Presidency has ordered the Institute to immediately award the certificate of participation in Senior Executive Course 30 to him and the other participant who was said to have been absent at the graduation ceremony.
“The SGF has also been mandated to investigate the circumstances of Ribadu’s removal from the graduation venue and report back to the vice-president who oversees the institute and was at the ceremony.”
Investigation on Monday revealed that Ribadu’s name appeared on the IG’s list of graduands in the order of presentation of certificates.
It was marked with an asterisk with a footnote, ‘position/rank as at the time of admission to SEC 30.’
But the NIPSS management was persuaded at the last minute to blot out the rank and replace it with DCP.
Efforts to speak to the NIPSS Acting Director-General, Mr. James Opadiran, were not successful. But a source in the institute said the Presidency’s statement had been communicated to Opadiran.
He said, “It was only a matter of time. We know that ultimately, the certificate will be issued to him as he did not violate any of the institute’s rules and also completed his course without blemish.”
However, a source close to Ribadu said there was nothing to celebrate, especially with the humiliation he (Ribadu) and his family suffered in the hands of security operatives.
“How do they now compensate Ribadu for the disgrace they brought on his person and his family?” he asked.
When contacted on the latest development, Ribadu’s lawyer, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) said, “Well, that is the path to the rule of law.
“And we expect the Federal Government and its agents to continue to toe the path of legality for the advancement of this country.”
Before the Presidency statement was made available to journalists, some senators, a former Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, and the National Coordinator of the Ijaw Monitoring Group, Mr. Joseph Evah, had joined the list of those that upbraided the Federal Government for the humiliation of the former EFCC chairman and his guests.
Senators Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, Aloysius Etuk and Chris Anyanwu described the Saturday incident as a contradiction of the Rule of Law stance of the Yar’Adua administration.
Henshaw, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Water Resources said, “I cannot see the point of forcibly taking him out of the graduation ceremony. I don’t know what purpose that would serve.
“It (action) doesn’t speak well of us who have made the rule of law the cardinal principle of the administration.”
In his comment, Etuk said the treatment meted out to Ribadu would discourage Nigerians saddled with the responsibility of fighting corruption to carry out their duties with patriotism.
He advised the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, to resign honourably because his comments on the NIPSS issue gave a wrong impression about government’s position on corruption.
Anyanwu, who is the deputy chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, said the action against Ribadu was “appalling” and capable of demeaning Nigerians with the zeal to achieve great things for the country.
She said, “A nation that does not have icons is in trouble. We cannot achieve our 2020 dreams if we don’t have people who can make things work here.”
Tsav, in an interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja on Monday, said the choice of the NIPSS graduation day to humiliate Ribadu and members of his family reminded “us of the sad days of military dictatorship.”
Tsav said, “If the authorities felt that Ribadu, with his present rank of DCP, was not qualified to attend the course, they should have withdrawn him from the course effective from the date of his demotion.
“To me, it is not the issue of rank but a ploy to disgrace him because I know of DCPs and Colonels who attended that course.
“But I also blame Ribadu for his travails. Although he is a lawyer, he is inexperienced as a police officer. He ought not to have taken the Federal Government and the Police to court without authority and clearance of the Inspector-General of Police.
“This action violates Police Regulations. His suit against the police has generated this reaction and he should blame himself.”
Speaking with our correspondent in Warri, Delta State, Evah claimed that Ribadu was being humiliated by President Umaru Yar’Adua because of his courage in prosecuting corrupt past governors.
He added that Ribadu did not deserve his present travails because he served the country faithfully through the EFCC by confronting “sacred cows” who brought economic misfortunes to their states.
He said, “Yar’Adua is a burden to the country because Nigeria is at a standstill since he came to power. Most importantly, his imposition on the country showed how former President Obasanjo hated us because he did not realise his third-term ambition.
“I fear that Ribadu may suffer the same fate as Dele Diwa to pacify those former governors who grounded their states for the emergence of Yar’Adua.”
EFCC: We Are Investigating Ribadu
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NIPSS releases his certificate
Golu Timothy and Lilian Agih, Abuja
November 25th, 2008
The former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu is still swimming in troubled waters as a senior official in the EFCC said last night that Ribadu is being investigated by the commission.
This is coming at a time when the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru near Jos reversed itself by asking Ribadu to receive his certificate following his successful graduation from the elitist institute.
The EFCC officer disclosed that the commission is investigating its former boss over several petitions linking him to alleged "dubious wealth, within and outside the country."
The allegation is coming at a time when the Code of Conduct Bureau revealed that Ribadu never declared his assets throughout his tenure as chairman of the anti-graft commission.
According to the EFCC source, "several persons including two notable Lawyers have petitioned the commission over properties owned by Ribadu in London, Dubai and another at No 18 Mambilla Street, off Udi Street, Maitama Abuja".
According to the Bureau, in a letter to the EFCC, Ribadu had failed to declare the properties as his assets. The letter, which was signed by the Bureau Chairman, read in part, "Your letter Reference No. CR:3000/EFCC/X/ABJ/BF2/VOL.31/87 of 21st October 2008 refers please. From our records, there is no evidence to show that Malam Nuhu Ribadu declared his assets during his tenure as EFCC chairman".
LEADERSHIP further gathered that the commission has about 10 litigations in court from bidders, buyers and owners over recovered assets and properties sold by Ribadu during his tenure as chairman of the commission.
Although the former EFCC boss had insisted that he handed over all records to his successor, Ibrahim Lamorde, the EFCC said he only handed-over a three-page note where he still addressed himself as the "substantive Executive of the commission".
According to our source, "There is no evidence to show that the properties were sold; we do not know what or where the properties are; we don't know who bought it or at what rate. In fact, we have no defence against these litigations".
The EFCC had consistently invited Ribadu to help with the details that will assist the commission tackle some of the litigations. Although he failed to honour the invitation of the commission, LEADERSHIP source disclosed that the commission has gotten in touch with the Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro to make him honour the next invitation, noting that there is no reason not to honour the invitation if he has nothing to hide.
According to Okiro's invitation, Ribadu is expected to meet with the police boss today but there were strong indications last night that he may not honour the invitation.
Meanwhile, Ribadu is to receive his certificate following his successful graduation from the elitist National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS) in Kuru.
This follows concerns that the Federal Government had a hand in the decision to prevent him and Mr. Allen Briggs from participating in the graduation ceremony of NIPSS after successfully completing the Senior Executive Course.
A statement which originated from the office of the Vice-president and signed by Ima Niboro, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President (Media & Publicity), said that Nuhu Ribadu can now collect his certificate from NIPSS authorities.
"For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, the Federal Government wishes to affirm that it gave no such directive that Mallam Ribadu or any other person be barred from the NIPSS graduation.
Consequently, the Presidency has ordered the Institute to immediately award the certificate of participation in Senior Executive Course 30 to him and the other participant who was said to have been absent at the graduation ceremony," he said.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation has also been mandated to investigate the circumstances of Mallam Ribadu's removal from the graduation venue and report back to the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who oversees the Institute and was at the ceremony.
It could be recalled that there was a mild drama last Saturday at Kuru when Ribadu was denied his NIPSS graduation certificate following controversy over his demotion from the rank of Assistant Inspector General to that of Deputy Commissioner of Police, a development he had since challenged in court.
Ribadu shuns police invitation, risks sack
ReplyDeleteBy MURPHY GANAGANA, Abuja
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
•Nuhu Ribadu
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Despite the Federal Government’s directive to the management of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), to release his certificate of participation for the one year course he attended at the elite institution, which was rounded off last Saturday, reprieve has not come the way of former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who has been swimming in troubled waters since his unceremonious exit from office.
Besides three queries hanging on his neck at the Police Headquarters in Abuja, the embattled ex-EFCC boss now risks sack over his alleged failure to honour an invitation by the Force authorities on Monday.
Ribadu, according to top police sources, was invited to the Kam Salem building along with other police officers who attended the NIPSS to submit their projects.
According to the sources, the other NIPSS graduates honoured the invitation for the routine project submission, but the ex-EFCC boss stayed away.
It was gathered that Ribadu ostensibly saw the invitation as a ploy by the police authorities to arrest and make him answer to the queries earlier issued him, but which he ignored.
Indeed, Daily Sun further learnt that had he appeared at the Force Headquarters, Ribadu would have been taken to task on why he decided not to respond to the queries issued him, with a senior police source saying," he made it look like he doesn’t see himself as a police officer any longer."
Another issue the former EFCC chairman would have been made to respond to was petition a foreign donor agency sent through the police authorities, asking Ribadu to explain how funds it donated to the anti-graft agency were utilized.
Besides his troubles with the police, the EFCC has commenced investigation into choice properties located in Abuja, the United Kingdom and Dubai, which are allegedly owned by him. This is even as the anti-graft agency is also probing into assets recovered from suspects convicted of corruption by the courts, as well as records of sale of such assets.
The development is coming on the heels of a declaration by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to the effect that the erstwhile EFCC boss did not declare his assets as statutorily required before, during and after he left office as helmsman of the anti-corruption commission.
In a letter dated October 24, 2008 and addressed to the EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, the Code of Conduct Bureau categorically stated that "from our records, there is no evidence to show that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu declared his assets during his tenure as EFCC Chairman."
Enclosed in the letter, signed by Chief Ikechi Iwuagwu, on behalf of chairman of the CCB, was a Certified True Copy of Assets Declaration Form in respect of Mallam Ribadu, just as it explained that it could not comment on a request for assets declaration by one Mr. Jimmy Lawal, as he is not a public officer, and therefore, outside the purview of the Bureau.
The CCB’s clarification followed a request by the EFCC through a letter reference CR:3000/EFCC/X/ABJ/BF2/VOL.31/87, dated October 21, 2008, in which authorities of the anti-graft agency sought clarification on assets declared by Ribadu in furtherance of investigations over choice properties allegedly owned by him.
Dependable sources close to the EFCC told Daily Sun that the on-going probe into his assets was necessitated by a petition written to the agency by two legal practitioners, alleging that Ribadu was involved in several sleazy deals, the proceeds of which he might have used in acquiring posh houses at the highbrow Maitama District of Abuja, London , and Dubai . It was further gathered that Ribadu may be dragged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), on charges of official misconduct and corruption.
Specifically, the petitioners pointed at a duplex on No. 18, Mambilla Street, Maitama, Abuja, two properties at Leeds and Chelsea in the London, and a mansion located at Palm Beach Estate, in Dubai. Although the EFCC had summoned Ribadu for clarification on some issues, sources said the invitation was not connected to the present probe on his properties.
EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi, could not be reached for comments at press time, but a senior official of the commission confirmed the development. "The initial invitation sent to him has nothing to do with these petitions. It had to do with records of sale of properties which were not available in our books. There were no records of assets recovered, who bought what, and for how much. There were some highest bidders during the sale of confiscated properties who were denied purchase, and there were also litigations in court which needed to be defended," said a top EFCC official who pleaded anonymity.
•••FG denies involvement in his ordeal
ReplyDelete• Directs NIPPS to award certificates to him, Briggs
By LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
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The Federal Government has denied having any hand in the decision to prevent the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Mr. Allen Briggs from participating in the graduation ceremony of NIPSS after successfully completing the Senior Executive Course, saying it was embarrassed by media reports linking it with the development.
Accordingly, it has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, to investigate the circumstances of Ribadu’s removal from the graduation venue and report back to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, who oversees the institute.
A statement from the office of the vice president on Monday signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, also ordered NIPSS to immediately award the certificate of participation in Senior Executive Course 30 to the former EFCC boss and the other participant said to be absent at the graduation ceremony.
"For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, the Federal Government wishes to affirm that it gave no such directive that Mallam Ribadu or any other person be barred from the NIPSS graduation," it pointed out.
Ribadu was reportedly forced out of the graduation hall of NIPSS by heavily armed security agents and taken to a hidden location within the premises to prevent him from graduating alongside his fellow participants.
His wife, children and other close associates who had travelled to Kuru, near Jos to rejoice with him were also said to have been sent out of the hall by the security men.
The institute’s acting Director of Studies, Dr. Adamu Fika, had while presenting graduands of the Senior Executive Course 30 to Vice President Jonathan who represented President Yar’Adua on the occasion announced that out of the 65 participants inaugurated in February 2008, two would not be graduating alongside others.
He gave the names of the two as Nuhu Ribadu and Deinbo Allen Briggs, causing quite unease at the venue as the many guests reportedly showed their displeasure through loud murmur.
The incident has continued to attract comments from notable Nigerians, most of whom condemned it, saying it negated the Yar’Adua administration’s stand on rule of law.
Police Ask Ribadu to Resume in Edo
ReplyDelete•FG orders NIPSS to give certificate to ex-EFCC boss
From Funso Muraina, Sufuyan Ojeifo, Juliana Taiwo in Abuja and Yemi Akinsuyi in Lagos, 11.25.2008
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The embattled former Chairman of the Econo-mic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has been posted to Zone 5, Benin, Edo State as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of administration.
A top police officer who confirmed Ribadu’s posting to THISDAY last night said the Police High Command had dispatched the signal to him and that he is expected to resume “with immediate effect”.
Ribadu is expected to see to the affairs of the administration and duties of officers and men of the zone, which comprises Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa State Police Commands.
He is also expected to be the third DCP in the Zone, where there are Deputy Commission-ers in charge of Operations and Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID).
All efforts to get Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Akpoebi Agberebi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), to react to the development last night was unsuccessful as he did not pick several calls put to his phone.
Ribadu is the first DCP to have undergone a Senior Officers Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.
The new signal to report at Benin is the latest in the Ribadu saga that is daily spewing new twists and turns.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) had in September this year demoted the former EFCC boss to the rank of DCP from the Assistant Inspector-General of Police with which he had enlisted at NIPSS.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has asked the authorities of NIPSS to immediately issue certificate to Ribadu who has just completed the Senior Executive Course 30 at the institute.
Ribadu was last Saturday prevented from graduating along with his colleagues, as he and his family members were whisked out of the graduation ceremony.
The action has already drawn the ire of many Nigerians and professional bodies among them the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), which described it as barbaric.
But yesterday, the government directed NIPSS to issue the former EFCC boss his certificate.
Government also asked the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ribadu’s forceful removal from the graduation ground and the report sent to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan who oversees the institute.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, said the Federal Government also directed that Mr. Allen Briggs who was embroiled in camera theft in China while on study tour be awarded his certificate as well.
Briggs was also denied the opportunity of graduating along with his colleagues last Saturday.
Niboro said: “The Federal Government is concerned about reports that it was involved in the decision to prevent Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the former Chairman of the EFCC, and Mr. Allen Briggs from participating in the graduation ceremony of NIPSS after successfully completing the Senior Executive Course.
“For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, the Federal Government wishes to affirm that it gave no such directive that Mallam Ribadu or any other person be barred from the NIPSS graduation.
“Consequently, the Presidency has ordered the Institute to immediately award the certificate of participation in Senior Executive Course 30 to him and the other participant who was said to have been absent at the graduation ceremony.
“The Secretary to the Government of the Federation has also been mandated to investigate the circumstances of Mallam Ribadu’s removal from the graduation venue and report sent to the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who oversees the Institute and was at the ceremony,” he said.
In a related development, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Michael Aondoakaa, who was fingered in the removal of Ribadu from the graduation ground, has alleged that the ex-EFCC boss was trying to live above the system in which he operated.
Speaking with THISDAY yesterday in Abuja, Aondoakaa said Ribadu was entitled to his certificate bearing the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to which he had been demoted.
He, however, denied that he played any role in the Ribadu saga at the NIPSS graduation, pointing out that the report which linked him with the development was “blatantly incorrect.”
According to him, “I did not play any role at all in the Ribadu saga at NIPSS graduation. I think the press seems to love me; they just take my name into something… In fact, when I saw the blatantly incorrect statement made by them, because I know you also have a way of cross checking and the security agencies were there; they said immediately after the former President of Uganda, I arrived. It is false.”
He said further, “I arrived at the venue about 9.30; then I was taken to a place and I sat there. When they later informed us that the Vice-President was approaching, we came out. That was all. But the next thing I heard was that I was the one who did it.
“I saw the programme and, of course, I saw Nuhu Ribadu’s name there as Deputy Commissioner of Police, but I saw that there was an alteration; maybe something was put there before putting in DCP. But as a law officer, if you ask me, I know he is Deputy Commissioner of Police.
“I also know that he knows that he is Deputy Commissioner of Police. He cannot go and challenge an action in court that he has been demoted without knowing what he is.
“Also, what I observed there was that I saw all the military and paramilitary personnel in uniform. He was not. What I tried to inquire was that whether they used dress code. They said it was prohibitive for military officers to come to the venue without being properly dressed and from the papers, I read that one senior officer, the previous day, asked him to dress properly; and, of course, he still did not dress properly.
“I saw from the newspapers that he took a picture and one of the officers there was in uniform and he (Ribadu) was not. I think we should try not to make an individual to be above the whole system. NIPSS has been there.”
Aondoakaa said it had not been recorded in the history of NIPSS that military and paramilitary personnel attended the graduation ceremony in “flowing agbada.”
He continued: “One person should not be allowed to change a system that has become a history. Can the lawyer go to court without wig? So, if Nuhu comes to Supreme Court now, because he is Nuhu, he will be allowed to wear agbada and the Supreme Court will not send him out? Or can he go on police parade without wearing uniform? That is what the press is trying to say. That is a paradox.”
Ribadu refutes EFCC's claims on property
ReplyDeleteFORMER Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has refuted claims by the Commission that he owned several houses abroad and in Nigeria and that he did not declare his assets before, during and after he left the agency.
In a statement sent late yesterday by his Lagos-based attorney, Charles Musa Esq., to media houses, Ribadu said that the agency he headed for several years was now more eager to align with enemies of the anti-graft war than being painstaking in its investigations before speaking out.
Below is the full statement dated November 25 and entitled "Refutation of EFCC's baseless claim on Ribadu's properties":
"Our attention has been drawn to wide media coverage in a number of publications suggesting that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bought and owned houses in Dubai, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria.
"According to the publications, the leadership of the EFCC also said, through its publicity office, that it has commenced investigations on Ribadu, based on 'several petitions against Ribadu, which are being investigated at the moment.'
"The EFCC also claimed that Mr. Ribadu did not declare his assets as EFCC Chairman before and after leaving office.
"In its five-year existence, the EFCC has garnered a lot of local and international esteem on account of its sterling reputation for dogged investigation and efficient prosecution records. Thus, for this reason, one would expect such an institution to show more fidelity for evidence and facts in other to protect its name, its sense of honour, and the competence of its leadership.
"Apparently, these shaping values have little meaning to the current incarnation of the EFCC. For the records, however, here are the facts:
"Mr. Ribadu states categorically today, as he did late last year when this same baseless rumour was advertised by these same forces, that:
He does not own houses in Abuja, Dubai, the U.K or any other part of the world, other than his personal house built in his village in Yola back in the early 1990s;
Mr. Ribadu owns a yet-to-be-developed plot of land in Katampe, an undeveloped district of Abuja, which was acquired in 1998;
Apart from his official salary account, Mr. Ribadu does not operate a bank account anywhere else in the world;
He has dutifully sworn to oaths declaring his assert when he was appointed Chairman, and is in the process now of declaring his assets after the completion of his course at Kuru.
Again, he urges the Commission in all its evident enthusiasm to proceed with the basic tenets of investigation of careful rather than tendentious scrutiny.
Regarding his official residence which has again being mischievously listed as a house he bought, here are the facts:
"When the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), this is the in line with the policy of the last administration, offered for sale along with other houses in the area, Mr. Ribadu could not muster the funds to purchase the said house. However, sensitive to the possibility of a conflict of interest arising if he approached banks for a loan, given his position as EFCC Chairman, Ribadu nearly lost the house until his father-in-law, Professor Iya Abubakar, intervened. It was the Professor who bid for the house at a public auction and took a facility from his bankers, Fidelity Bank, to purchase the house, which cost N44 million. As it is, Mr. Ribadu and his family are currently living in the Mambilla Street house, thanks to his father-in-law. All records pertaining to this transaction are available at the FCDA for anyone who wishes to check.
Since the Commission and its sponsors seem driven to conclusions without the care of preambles, Mr. Ribadu hereby grants express permission to the EFCC or anyone who finds that he has assets other than those he declared before the Code of Conduct Bureau when he assumed office in 2003, to seize them without further reference to him.
"Last word: "Mr. Ribadu is naturally saddened that an institution in which he worked earnestly and professionally with many patriotic colleagues seem eager to seek alliance with methods perfected by enemies of the anti-corruption war. He looks forward to a return to sobriety and professionalism at the Commission. "Signed: Charles Musa Esq., LL.M, B.L, MCI. Arb".
However, more criticisms have continued to trail last Saturday's aborted graduation of Ribadu at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru as the AC described the act as disgraceful show of brute force.
The party, however, added that the incident was also a classical case of poetic justice for Ribadu.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the AC also condemned the presidency for distancing itself from the barbaric act, saying the denial shows the lack of character by the Yar'Adua administration, which is always quick to backtrack once an action backfires.
It said, however, that it is worse for the presidency to deny knowledge of such a high-profile embarrassment, as it would only confirm the general belief that the government of President Yar'Adua is on auto drive with no one in charge.
AC said that the Kuru incident should serve as a sharp reminder of what can happen when people in authority pay only lip service to the rule of law and allow the security agencies to ride roughshod over innocent citizens.
"Having said that, we make bold to add that Ribadu, in his hey days at the head of the EFCC, would probably have done something worse than that.
"This is a man who used the police to drag former Inspector General of Police Tafa Balogun on the ground like a stray dog, even when he was still a suspect in a case of fraud preferred against him. After all, as a lawyer, Ribadu should have known that an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
"It is the same Ribadu, as he strutted the land like a colossus, who used the EFCC to illegally bar many qualified candidates from contesting in the 2007 elections, until the Supreme Court ruled against such act in the case involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, merely days to the polls!
The party also said Ribadu, as Chairman of the EFCC, flouted court rulings with impunity, not minding the fact that he has now headed to the same court to seek justice after he was justifiably demoted.
Also, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential candidate in last year's general elections Prof. Pat Utomi and a Moslem group, The Companion, have commended the presidency's action, dissociating itself from the ugly treatment meted to Ribadu.
In separate reactions to the incident, Utomi and the Moslem group condemned the embarrassment and Ribadu's abduction.
Utomi in a statement, said: "It is pleasing that the presidency has issued a statement dissociating itself from what happened in Kuru... it is therefore appropriate to commend the presidency for the courage to dissociate itself from what happened in NIPSS, Kuru, which can leave the impression that we're sliding towards tyranny."
Condemning the treatment meted on Ribadu, the group in a statement signed by its spokesman, Tajudeen Balogun, said "the latest travail of Ribadu ... at the graduation ceremony with his friends from collecting his certificate last weekend is condemnable, embarrassing and disgraceful to Ribadu's personality, the Nigeria police, NIPSS and the country as a whole."
Ribadu’s ordeal is poetic justice —AC
ReplyDeleteKALU OKWARA
ACTION Congress (AC) said that the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu deserved the treatment he got last weekend at the graduation ceremony of the 30th course of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru near Jos, Plateau State.
In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the AC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said although Ribadu was disgraced, it was a pay-back for those of them that used their authority to violate human rights.
AC said that the Kuru incident should serve as a sharp reminder of what can happen when people in authority paid only a lip service to the rule of law and allowed the security agencies to ride roughshod over innocent citizens.
``The presidency may deny all it can that it did not know anything about the crude way that Ribadu was bundled out of the graduation ceremony, but the truth is that those behind it felt they could do it because the government’s so-called rule of law mantra is just a cliché meant to give the administration a semblance of governance..
``Having said that, we make bold to add that Ribadu, in his hey day at the head of the EFCC, would probably have done something worse than that..
``This is a man who used the police to drag former Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, on the ground like a stray dog, even when he was still a suspect in a case of fraud preferred against him. After all, as a lawyer, Ribadu should have known that an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
``It is the same Ribadu, as he strutted the land like a colossus, who used the EFCC to illegally bar many qualified candidates from contesting in the 2007 elections, until the Supreme Court ruled against such act in the case involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, merely days to the polls.
``This is a man who, drunk with power, virtually re-wrote the Nigerian Constitution by illegally instigating the impeachments of several state governors, including those of Bayelsa and Plateau states, with just one third of the membership of their Houses of Assembly; the same man who ran Globacom owner, Mike Adenuga, out of town over an unproven allegation,’’ AC said.
The party also said Ribadu, as Chairman of the EFCC, flouted court rulings with impunity, not minding the fact that he has now headed to the same court to seek justice after he was justifiably demoted.
``Ribadu, as a tool in the hand of a power monger and an anarchist, helped pave the way for the emergence of this administration by throwing roadblocks on the path of credible opponents of the PDP candidate and emboldening INEC to ruin the elections. Today, the administration does not want to have anything to do with him. He has fallen on his own petard," AC said.
Meanwhile the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential candidate in the 2007 Presidential elections, Prof. Pat Utomi has called on the people involved to give account of their roles.
In a statement issued by his aide on media, Kila Odunaya, Utomi said: "It is pleasing that the presidency has issued a statement dissociating itself from what happened in Kuru not just because this is exactly what I called on them to do hours before their statement, but also because leadership has the obligation to set a moral tone for the country."
"It is therefore appropriate to commend the presidency for the courage to dissociate itself from what happened in NIPSS, Kuru which can leave this impression that we’re sliding towards tyranny."
"I do hope that on many similar issues, the leadership would proactively take the moral high ground before public opinion hardens in the direction that’s not helpful to our challenge to build a democracy that works for the majority of the people and is sensitive to the weak and the minority."
"However, I advise the federal government to now take a major step towards a renewal of our political and social order by ensuring that all involved and responsible for the shoddy outing must account for their indiscretion."
"Still going forward, I would then urge that actors in leadership recognise the need to put behind Nigeria and Nigerians, every inch of the past and put on the front burner, the great urgency of now, which is to create millions of jobs for Nigerians and to move this economy away from a rent-seeking arrangement." "We must move away from this rent-seeking arrangement in which the privilege of access to power creams off to the detriment of the citizenry, to an order that provides opportunities to all who are willing to apply themselves, actually creates wealth, and diversifies the base of national income.
"Our challenge must be to turn Nigeria away from ‘paradise-deferred to paradise-reclaimed’ and government must refocus its energy to the underserved young people of this country who are already in despair with a sense of hopelessness because not to liberate them now is to sacrifice a future of great potential’."
Also, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has flayed the action of the government.
According to a statement, issued by its president Debo Adeniran, said the
administration had been moving from telling one lie to the other since its inauguration about 18 months ago.
"Apart from that of its ascendancy to office fraught with several irregularities, there is the lying about the health condition of President Yar’Adua undergoing a series of medical treatment for what could be a terminal ailment.
"There are several lies about the pogrom that are daily committed by the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta. While the people said the JTF men were fighting and killing their civilian competitors in the business of illegal bunkering, the soldiers lie that it is the Niger-Delta trouble makers they were killing. There is the lie about the performance of 2008 budget government sources put it at more than 60% when it is actually performing less than 40% and several other lies to cover up its indiscretion, dereliction and insolence.
"We are not saying that the military and para-military forces in Nigeria should not observe their rules, regulations and procedures. Our argument is that such observance should be decorously done with all sense of honesty and responsibility.
"The humiliation meted out on Nuhu Ribadu in the presence of the world public at Kuru on Saturday is a collective shame to all of us all. If Ribadu had violated any law, there are civilised ways and procedures of making him pay or recompense for it. It is arrant nonsense, unacceptable and inexplicable barbarism that a student who successfully went through a course of study was not allowed to graduate.
"If Ribadu was not qualified to undergo the course why did the authorities coerced him to go through the rigours the course demanded? If he was found incompetent for the course why was he not advised to withdraw before the end of the course? Definitely, the authorities have something to hide in this case," read the statement.
Police put Ribadu on trial
ReplyDeleteMALACHY UZENDU, Head Editorial, Abuja and KALU OKWARA
MORE trouble awaits the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Mike Okiro has queried him for improper dressing and misconduct.
Also, Ribadu has been summoned to appear before the Force Disciplinary Committee[FDC] sitting on December 4 at the Police Officers Mess Kaduna.
A police wireless message to the Assistant Inspector Generaal [AIG] in charge of Zone 5, Benin by the Force Headquarters directed the former to release Deputy Commissioner of Police [DCP] Ribadu to face the committee which will hear the pending disciplinary matters. It was dated November 24, 2008.
Ribadu was accused of dressing in plain clothes without approval by the IGP during a recent courtesy call on President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Daily Champion recalls that Ribadu and his colleagues in the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) course 30 had visited President Yar’Adua November 13 at the presidential villa, Abuja.
However in a query signed by the Deputy Force Secretary, Suleiman A. Abba, a Commissioner of Police, Ribadu was ordered to reply the query within 48 hours of the receipt.
Entitled "Query for Serious Misconduct," it read:
"The attention of the Inspector-General of Police has been drawn to the front page publication of Daily Trust and Thisday Newspapers of Friday 14th November, 2008, to the fact that NIPSS Course 30, 2008 participants of which you and other Senior Police and Armed Forces Officers are members, paid a courtesy visit on Mr. President at the State House, Abuja on 13th November, 2008. While your colleagues in the police and other services were in their official uniforms respectively, you appeared before Mr. President in plain clothes.
The Inspector-General of Police is piqued and highly embarrassed that without approval you ignore the ethics and rules of the force which requires you to be properly dressed in uniform on official duty and appeared before Mr. President dressed in plain clothes. Your conduct as highlighted above has not only portrayed you as indisciplined, it has portrayed the force in bad light.
Accordingly, the Inspector-General of Police directs that you be queried and you are hereby queried for the following acts of misconducts:-
• Improper Dressing: In that you appeared dressed in plain clothes instead of police uniform when you paid a courtesy visit with other course participants on Mr. President in the presidency on 13th November, 2008, contrary to rule 030301 (k) of the Public Service Rules 2006;
• Discreditable Conduct: In that by appearing in plain clothes as highlighted above, you have discredited the Nigeria Police Force and portrayed it as an indisciplined organization, contrary to rule 030403(w) of the Public Service Rules 2006;
• Conduct Prejudicial to Discipline: In that the sum total of your conduct as highlighted above is prejudicial to discipline, proper administration of the Force and unbecoming of a Senior Police Officer of your rank contrary to rule 030401 of the Public Service Rules, 2006;
• Serious Acts of Misconduct: In that your deliberate failure or neglect to be in police uniform during official working assignment is a serious act of misconduct unbecoming of a Public Officer contrary to rules 030401 and 030402(w) of the Public Service Rules 2006.
You are therefore required to explain in writing within 48hrs of the receipt of this query why disciplinary action should not be taken against you. Your explanation, if nay, should be submitted through the appropriate channel within the stipulated period or it will be assumed to mean that you have none to offer and the IGP will be at liberty to take any action he finds appropriate in the circumstance, please.
Meanwhile, one of Ribadu lawyers, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) yesterday said his client was not being detained by security agents as speculated by the media.
"I don’t think he (Ribadu) is in detention presently" Mr. Oyetibo told Daily Champion on telephone last night.
Ribadu is a national hero — Ogunshola
ReplyDeleteBy Everest Amaefule, Abuja
Published: Wednesday, 26 Nov 2008
President of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, on Tuesday, said the recent ordeals of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, were unfortunate and undeserving of a man who had become a national hero.
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Bayoor Ewuoso
Chief Ajibola Ogunshola
Ogunshola, who spoke to journalists in Abuja shortly after the opening ceremony of the 48th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, also criticised the Supreme Court for its delay in resolving the presidential election dispute involving President Umaru Yar’Adua and his challengers.
The NPAN president, who is also Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, said the few things Ribadu did wrong while in office were not enough to warrant the treatment that had been meted to him.
Predicting that the former EFCC chairman would emerge from his current ordeals to play a greater role in the nation’s development, Ogunshola said the rule of law should be allowed to take its course in the case instituted by Ribadu against the Nigeria Police over his demotion from the rank of an Assistant Inspector-General of Police to a Deputy Commissioner of Police.
He said, “The man has gone to court and they should let the court resolve the matter. It is surprising that when a person like that is in court, force is still being used against him.
“He was forcibly ejected from the graduation ceremony. That is contrary to the rule of law stand of the present administration. So that is wrong. I hope the court will do its duty here.
“What has he done wrong? Okay, he allowed his office to be used against the political opponents of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“That was wrong, but the good things he did by far, outweighed the bad things he did. Even then, people forget that he dealt with Tafa Balogun who was very close to Obasanjo.
“If he had continued to deal with Obasanjo’s friends, he probably would not have allowed him to remain in the office.
“Therefore, he would not be in a position to continue with the good things he did. Are they saying that those Obasanjo’s enemies that he prosecuted were innocent, including all the 419 people prosecuted under him?
“This man is a hero, my friend, quote me; he (Ribadu) is going to play a greater role in the future of this country. Quote me.”
Ogunshola added that it was also the responsibility of the court to decide whether the former EFCC boss had the fundamental right to sue his employer, the Nigeria Police, or not.
He said, “As a policeman, is he not subject to the authority of Nigerian police? Let the police decide whether he is subject to police authority or not.
“The court is there and he has gone to court, so let the court decide. Some things are not absolute, there are also fundamental human rights. Under what condition can a person go to the Appeal Court? The court must be given the opportunity to define the limits.
“If all the requirements are fulfilled for him to be enrolled and be given his certificate in the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, then the court will say so.”
He also criticised the Supreme Court for allowing the case against Yar’Adua’s election to linger.
According to him, the lingering court case hinders the president from being his own man as he will continue to pander to the forces that brought him to power.
He said, “I also think President Yar’Adua is handicapped by the Supreme Court case that has not yet been decided. I think and I want to be quoted, that the Supreme Court has been unfair to the nation in not concluding its judgment on time on the presidential election.
“The case has been with the Supreme Court since April. I know that it is rare to tell the Supreme Court that it has done wrong. The Supreme Court should give us this judgment before the end of this year so that Yar’Adua can be his own man and can act and not be at the mercy of those who brought him to power because for now, all kinds of characters are all over the place.”
Explaining why NPAN desired to establish an Ombudsman, Ogunshola said it was not every complaint about unjust treatment in the mass media that should go to the court.
He added that the Ombudsman, which would be established in the first quarter of 2009, would give people an avenue to lay their complaints without having to go to court in the first instance.
Your Predicament, An Act Of God, Ex-Plateau Speaker Tells Ribadu
ReplyDeleteBy Olusola Balogun Asst Editor
Former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Simon Lalong, has asked the embattled former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, to accept his ordeal in the hands of security agents at the closing ceremony of the senior Executive Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru as an act of God.
Lalong, in an open letter to the former anti-graft chief said nemesis was fast catching up with the Adamawa State-born police officer.
The former Speaker recalled that Ribadu, while at the helms of affairs at the EFCC was a law unto himself and feared by all.
He noted that the current ordeal of the former EFCC boss was a good lesson in "how not to abuse public office."
Lalong who had his pregnant wife detained by Ribadu's men over the disappearance of her husband, mocked Ribadu for heading to the law court to seek redress over his demotion in the police.
He said: "Today, you are in court challenging your demotion which you considered as an injustice and praying the court to order the Police Service Commission not to demote you to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police.
"It is most unfortunate that as a learned man, you failed to realise the effect of the comic law of retributive justice. It was your disdain for the courts and lack of regard for due process that earned you unmerited accelerated promotion.
"It is ironic that it is to these same courts that you are now running to seek redress. If President Yar'Adua and other Nigerians had joined you and your former master to rubbish the courts of the land including the Supreme Court whose judgment former President Olusegun Obasanjo personally overruled in Lagos and Imo states, where will you turn today to seek redress?"
According to the former Speaker, the accelerated promotion was uncalled for. "The then President Olusegun Obasanjo, without recourse to the laid down procedures and criteria for promotion in the Police, gave you accelerated double promotion within a span of two years to the position of Assistance Inspector General of Police to the amazement of your superiors and your mates who were not opportuned to serve the tin gods of the day.
Utomi Lauds FG over Ribadu
ReplyDelete11.26.2008
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African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate in the 2007 elections, Prof Pat Utomi, has commended the presidency for its intervention in the disgrace meted out to former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu,last Saturday at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos , Plateau state.
While urging the government to be proactive in setting a national moral tone rather than wait until public opinion hardens, he said that the people involved should be called to order.
A statement signed by Utomi and made available to THISDAY yesterday said: "It is pleasing that the presidency has issued a statement dissociating itself from what happened in Kuru not just because this is exactly what I called on them to do hours before their statement, but also because leadership has the obligation to set a moral tone for the country.
"It is therefore appropriate to commend the presidency for the courage to dissociate itself from what happened in NIPSS, Kuru which can leave this impression that we're sliding towards tyranny.
"I do hope that on many similar issues, the leadership would proactively take the moral high ground before public opinion hardens in the direction that's not helpful to our challenge to build a democracy that works for the majority of the people and is sensitive to the weak and the minority.
"However, I advise the federal government to now take a major step towards a renewal of our political and social order by ensuring that all involved and responsible for the shoddy outing must account for their indiscretion.
"Still going forward, I would then urge that actors in leadership recognize the need to put behind Nigeria and Nigerians, every inch of the past and put on the front burner, the great urgency of now, -which is to create millions of jobs for Nigerians and to move this economy away from a rent-seeking arrangement."
"We must move away from this rent-seeking arrangement in which the privilege of access to power creams off to the detriment of the citizenry, to an order that provides opportunities to all who are willing to apply themselves, actually creates wealth, and diversifies the base of national income.
"Our challenge must be to turn Nigeria away from 'paradise-deferred to paradise-reclaimed' and government must refocus its energy to the underserved young people of this country who are already in despair with a sense of hopelessness because not to liberate them now is to sacrifice a future of great potential'."
Obey I-G's redeployment order or quit, lawyers tell Ribadu
ReplyDeleteWritten by Ise-Oluwa Ige
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Prominent lawyers in the country, including an Abuja-based member of the inner bar, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), yesterday, advised the immediate past Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to comply with his new posting or resign from service.
There was a media report yesterday that the Inspector-General of Police has posted Ribadu to Edo State as Deputy Commissioner of Police following his demotion from the rank of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).
The lawyers who spoke on the dilemma Ribadu found himself presently also faulted the directive issued by the Federal Government to the effect that the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), in Kuru, near Jos should release his certificate to him with immediate effect.
According to senior legal practitioners who spoke on various issues emerging from the Ribadu saga, the directive was part of the comedy of errors that have trailed the acts being visited on the former EFCC boss.
The lawyers who spoke on the issues were human rights and constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome; Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) and Chief Chris Uche (SAN).
According to Ngige (SAN), “I think the directive by the Federal Government to issue the NIPSS certificate to Ribadu is still part of the comedy of errors that has trailed the Ribadu saga starting from his removal as Chairman of EFCC to his graduation day drama.
“In the first place, I think the directive is interesting. This is because we want to know what they will write on the certificate. We want to know whether they would write DCP Nuhu Ribadu or AIG Nuhu Ribadu on the certificate.
“I am curious to know what the certificate will bear. If it bears DCP, it is an acknowledgment of the government’s position that he has been demoted.
“It would also be an acknowledgment that the government has allowed somebody who is not qualified to attend the institute and be given a certificate.
“And if they write AIG, it would also mean that he is still recognised as AIG notwithstanding his demotion by the Police Service Commission.
But an Abuja-based lawyer, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), viewed it from another perspective.
According to him, “I think it is not a matter that Mr President should interfere like that. Although I have not read the details of the said directive, yet I feel that for a president that has so much respect for rule of law, I think it is not a matter for him to dabble into.”
Commenting on what Ribadu should do with a separate directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mike Okiro, that he should resume in Edo, all the lawyers agreed that he had no option than to comply.
They said the only option he has if he does not want to comply is to resign from Police Service
FG retires suspended NIPSS DG, director
ReplyDeleteBy Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Published: Wednesday, 28 Jan 2009
The Presidency has retired the suspended acting Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Dr. Yakubu Sankey.
Also retired along with Sankey is an Assistant Director in the Research Department, Mr. Deinbo Briggs.
Though no reasons were given for their retirements, a one-paragraph letter from the office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, said that President Umaru Yar’Adua had approved the retirements.
The letter reads, “The President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, has approved your retirement effective from the date of this letter.” It was dated January 22.
However, a source at NIPSS told our correspondent that the action raised eye brows at the Presidency as some officials questioned the timing of the action, especially as it was coming barely 24 hours after the Vice-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, took charge after Yar’Adua proceeded on a two-week vacation.
Sankey had engaged Jonathan in a war of wits over his handling of an alleged theft case involving Briggs.
Sankey’s retirement is also raising apprehension over the fate of the acting DG, Mr. James Opadiran, and the assistant directors whose tenure had long expired. Intense lobbying is said to be going on to have their tenure extended.
Briggs, a participant in Course 30 of NIPSS, was alleged to have stolen a camera belonging to a fellow participant while they were on a study tour of China.
Sankey had set up an administrative panel which found Briggs guilty and subsequently suspended him from duty and withdrew him from the course.
But the vice-president, whose office oversees the affairs of NIPSS, reversed the decision following a petition by Briggs.
Jonathan’s action drew the ire of Sankey, who accused him of undermining his authority.
The vice-president, who felt humiliated, suspended Sankey.
He subsequently set up a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation between his office and Sankey.
The report of the committee is yet to be made public.