We are breaking our holidays to announce that the new Nigeria Mafia Don, James Onanefe Ibori has fulfilled his third, in a four-prong promise to Nuhu Ribadu. At 
last this man who stood up against corruption in Nigeria, although lopsided, has been let go from the putridly-corrupt Nigeria police force, courtesy of James Onanefe Ibori, picture right here in suit. James Onanefe Ibori is the nemesis in chief of Nuhu Ribadu and the 9 billion naira he allegedly sunk in the presidential campaign of Umaru Yar'Adua has bought him unquestionable access and power in Nigeria. Nuhu Ribadu is now his victim number 1. First James Onanefe Ibori promised Nuhu Ribadu that he will remove him as the chairman of EFCC and it came to pass. Second, that Nuhu Ribadu will be demoted from his Assistant Inspector General of Police position to deputy Commissioner of Police and it came to pass. Third, that he, Nuhu Ribadu, will be dismissed from the police and it has also now come to pass. Icheoku is now axiously waiting for the fourth promise that he, Nuhu Ribadu will be imprisoned to also come to fruition. Three out of four cannot be just a lucky chance and were it a prophet that predicted it, he/she would have his church thronged over-night like a bee-hive. Anybody still in doubt, including Nuhu Ribadu, of the ability of James Onanefe Ibori to bring about a promised cause of action needs to visit a shrink. The implication is that either Umaru Yar'Adua is absolutely corrupt himself or his indebtedness to James Ibori cannot be amortized in a safe and reasonable manner anyway, otherwise why should he stand silently yoked to this atrocious misbehaviour against Nuhu Ribadu? It says a lot about the complicity of the very sick man of Katsina, Umaru Yar'Adua who pretends ignorance while encouraging his minions to have their devilish ways in Nigeria. Like the fabled Shehu Shagari's ignorance of the notorious escapades of Umaru Dikko in the 80's, today Umaru Yar'Adua is playing possum while the likes of fraudster James Onanefe Ibori is grinding Nuhu Ribadu up in a wood-chirper. If this leprechaun cannot govern Nigeria, can someone please ask him to resign or better still make him do so; or are Nigerians waiting for the sky to literally collpase on them before they would rise up against the institutionalisation of full-throttle evil in that country? Today it is Nuhu Ribadu but whose turn shall it be tomorrow or who knows for whom the bell tolls next? However and ironically though, there is a seeming good in this chastisement of Nuhu Ribadu, that for once a northerner is at the recieving end of corrupt and powerful men-induced trauma in Nigeria! It sounds more like a pop-fiction that in Nigeria, a northern mallam is being hounded by a southerner mafia? That appears really very cool in a country where these northern mallams have been parading themselves as demi-gods over the years since independence and dishing out their venomous torture on the rest of Nigerians to their hearts delight and with unrepentant arrogance. How the tide turns? However, everybody in Nigeria especially the current men of power including James Onanefe Ibori, Mike Aodonkaa and Mike Okilo should look at the travails of Nuhu Ribadu and learn a prudent lesson therefrom on the triviality and ephemeral nature of power. The yesterday's man of power, Nuhu Ribadu has been reduced to a mere chicken-prey of today, by the newest power-brokers in Nigeria and the vicious circle goes on and on, round and round. Icheoku says it is a culture of inbred corruption in a society where criminals are crowned traditonal rulers; where criminal 419 operators are members of national and state houses of assemblies; where a fraud such as David Mark is the senate president and a democracy-subjugator Umaru Yar'Adua is the president! So what does one really expect from such awful society but a place where crimes are rewarded and honesty is punished just like the case in hand of Nuhu Ribadu! 
Icheoku lays all the blame and responsibility for all Nuhu Ribadu's troubles culminating to his final sacking from the Nigerian police force, squarely on the desk of the weakilng Umaru Yar'Adua since as the president, all the buck stops on his desk. Umaru Yar'Adua is fully seised of all the trappings of Nuhu Ribadu saga and to pretend otherwise is ludicrous. Umaru Yar'Adua is a cold-hearted corroborator who previously corroborated with Olusegun Obasanjo to truncate democracy in Nigeria. Were that mega-drama of Nigeria "selection 2007" to be a penal criminal case, Umaru Yar'Adua would have been charged and found guilty of recieving stolen property - the presidency, which Olusegun Obasanjo stole from Nigerians and gave to Umaru Yar'Adua for keeps. This assertion is with all due deference to the abracadabra of the Nigeria Supreme court decision validating the mandate. Anyway, goodluck Mr. Nuhu Ribadu as you await your promised prison sentence; but if Icheoku were to advise you, we urge you to immediately take flight out of Nigeria now; as the brave general is that general who comes back from war to tell his tales. Should you be stubborn and eventually find yourself in prison, you will not escape the fate which befell MKO Abiola. They will kill you off; so do not let them have their way, run for your dear life as he who fights and run away, lives to fight another day. Please Nuhu Ribadu, do not tempt the devil! Do not push your luck - now is the time to run for your life! Seek political asylum somewhere safe! Do it now!
last this man who stood up against corruption in Nigeria, although lopsided, has been let go from the putridly-corrupt Nigeria police force, courtesy of James Onanefe Ibori, picture right here in suit. James Onanefe Ibori is the nemesis in chief of Nuhu Ribadu and the 9 billion naira he allegedly sunk in the presidential campaign of Umaru Yar'Adua has bought him unquestionable access and power in Nigeria. Nuhu Ribadu is now his victim number 1. First James Onanefe Ibori promised Nuhu Ribadu that he will remove him as the chairman of EFCC and it came to pass. Second, that Nuhu Ribadu will be demoted from his Assistant Inspector General of Police position to deputy Commissioner of Police and it came to pass. Third, that he, Nuhu Ribadu, will be dismissed from the police and it has also now come to pass. Icheoku is now axiously waiting for the fourth promise that he, Nuhu Ribadu will be imprisoned to also come to fruition. Three out of four cannot be just a lucky chance and were it a prophet that predicted it, he/she would have his church thronged over-night like a bee-hive. Anybody still in doubt, including Nuhu Ribadu, of the ability of James Onanefe Ibori to bring about a promised cause of action needs to visit a shrink. The implication is that either Umaru Yar'Adua is absolutely corrupt himself or his indebtedness to James Ibori cannot be amortized in a safe and reasonable manner anyway, otherwise why should he stand silently yoked to this atrocious misbehaviour against Nuhu Ribadu? It says a lot about the complicity of the very sick man of Katsina, Umaru Yar'Adua who pretends ignorance while encouraging his minions to have their devilish ways in Nigeria. Like the fabled Shehu Shagari's ignorance of the notorious escapades of Umaru Dikko in the 80's, today Umaru Yar'Adua is playing possum while the likes of fraudster James Onanefe Ibori is grinding Nuhu Ribadu up in a wood-chirper. If this leprechaun cannot govern Nigeria, can someone please ask him to resign or better still make him do so; or are Nigerians waiting for the sky to literally collpase on them before they would rise up against the institutionalisation of full-throttle evil in that country? Today it is Nuhu Ribadu but whose turn shall it be tomorrow or who knows for whom the bell tolls next? However and ironically though, there is a seeming good in this chastisement of Nuhu Ribadu, that for once a northerner is at the recieving end of corrupt and powerful men-induced trauma in Nigeria! It sounds more like a pop-fiction that in Nigeria, a northern mallam is being hounded by a southerner mafia? That appears really very cool in a country where these northern mallams have been parading themselves as demi-gods over the years since independence and dishing out their venomous torture on the rest of Nigerians to their hearts delight and with unrepentant arrogance. How the tide turns? However, everybody in Nigeria especially the current men of power including James Onanefe Ibori, Mike Aodonkaa and Mike Okilo should look at the travails of Nuhu Ribadu and learn a prudent lesson therefrom on the triviality and ephemeral nature of power. The yesterday's man of power, Nuhu Ribadu has been reduced to a mere chicken-prey of today, by the newest power-brokers in Nigeria and the vicious circle goes on and on, round and round. Icheoku says it is a culture of inbred corruption in a society where criminals are crowned traditonal rulers; where criminal 419 operators are members of national and state houses of assemblies; where a fraud such as David Mark is the senate president and a democracy-subjugator Umaru Yar'Adua is the president! So what does one really expect from such awful society but a place where crimes are rewarded and honesty is punished just like the case in hand of Nuhu Ribadu! 
Icheoku lays all the blame and responsibility for all Nuhu Ribadu's troubles culminating to his final sacking from the Nigerian police force, squarely on the desk of the weakilng Umaru Yar'Adua since as the president, all the buck stops on his desk. Umaru Yar'Adua is fully seised of all the trappings of Nuhu Ribadu saga and to pretend otherwise is ludicrous. Umaru Yar'Adua is a cold-hearted corroborator who previously corroborated with Olusegun Obasanjo to truncate democracy in Nigeria. Were that mega-drama of Nigeria "selection 2007" to be a penal criminal case, Umaru Yar'Adua would have been charged and found guilty of recieving stolen property - the presidency, which Olusegun Obasanjo stole from Nigerians and gave to Umaru Yar'Adua for keeps. This assertion is with all due deference to the abracadabra of the Nigeria Supreme court decision validating the mandate. Anyway, goodluck Mr. Nuhu Ribadu as you await your promised prison sentence; but if Icheoku were to advise you, we urge you to immediately take flight out of Nigeria now; as the brave general is that general who comes back from war to tell his tales. Should you be stubborn and eventually find yourself in prison, you will not escape the fate which befell MKO Abiola. They will kill you off; so do not let them have their way, run for your dear life as he who fights and run away, lives to fight another day. Please Nuhu Ribadu, do not tempt the devil! Do not push your luck - now is the time to run for your life! Seek political asylum somewhere safe! Do it now!
Police dismiss Nuhu Ribadu
ReplyDeleteFawehinmi, Balarabe Musa, others condemn action
From Terhemba Daka (Abuja), Bertram Nwannekanma and Samson Ezea (Lagos)
THE long-drawn drama between the Nigeria Police Force and one of its own, erstwhile Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, hit the ultimate yesterday when the Force announced his sack. His guilt sheet read gross indiscipline, insubordination and Absence from Duty Without Leave (AWOL).
But Ribadu's lawyer, Charles Musa, has described the dismissal as a "flagrant abuse of the Constitution, disregard of judicial process and a mockery of the rule of law" which will be challenged in court.
The full text read: "We have received with great disbelief the purported dismissal of our client, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, from the Nigeria Police Force.
"We want to put on record that this is an act of flagrant abuse of the Constitution, disregard of judicial process and a mockery of the rule of law.
"The decision will be challenged in the court of law. It is our belief that justice would be done in the matter.
Nuhu Ribadu was among six senior police officers nominated and sent on Senior Executive Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos. He had been elevated to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) and hence qualified for the course.
But while on course, the Police Service Commission (PSC) said it was inundated with petitions on illegal and unauthorised promotions carried out in the Force.
The commission revisited the promotion exercise, after which 139 officers, including Ribadu, who were allegedly wrongfully promoted, were downgraded to their appropriate ranks.
Announcing the dismissal at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, Deputy Force Secretary, Suleiman Abba, a Commissioner of Police, said Ribadu's conduct was inimical to the enforcement of discipline in the Police, created disharmony among officers and encouraged indiscipline among members of the Force.
He said: "Nuhu Ribadu's case is not and has not been the only instance where officers have been reduced in ranks in the history of Nigeria Police Force and hell was not let loose.
"Surprisingly, Malam Nuhu Ribadu took the path of indiscipline, confrontation and destruction never known before in the Force, forgetting that discipline is the bedrock upon which the Force rests. Unlike the path taken by his other colleagues whose promotions were also withdrawn and have been performing their duties without acrimony, he refused to accept his fate or seek for redress of any perceived injustice in the appropriate manner."
Abba also cited Ribadu's misconduct to include improper dressing by appearing in plain- clothes while on official courtesy visit to Mr. President on November 13, 2008 with other NIPSS course participants, institution of legal proceedings against the IGP, AGF and the Police Service Commission on October 2, 2008 at the Federal High Court, Lagos, without proper authority, and described it as a "conduct prejudicial to discipline, proper administration of the Force and unbecoming of the officer contrary to sections 352 and 367 of the Police Act."
The Deputy Force Secretary disclosed that the former EFCC boss also instituted legal proceedings against the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation contrary to the Police Act and the Public Service Rules 2006.
He noted that the action was to forestall the directives given to him to meet with the request of the EFCC chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, with regards to hand over to her official documents in his possession, adding that "the officer flagrantly refused to obey the order and directives of the IGP to report in the office of the IGP on November 24, 2008 along with his NIPSS course mates at the completion of their studies."
"Similarly, the officer failed to obey the order and directives to the effect that he should report at the office of The Force Secretary on November 25, 2008 where he was to be advised to report to the Chairman of the EFCC as earlier directed," Abba added.
Speaking further, he said Ribadu also instituted legal proceedings against the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the Community Court of Justice of ECOWAS, Abuja, on December 2, 2008. This, according to Abba, was after he disregarded his posting order and refused to proceed on transfer when he was posted to Zone 5 Benin as DCP in charge of administration since November 2008.
The secretary added that the former EFCC boss refused to avail himself of the opportunity given to defend himself of all the charges before a disciplinary committee which sat on December 4 2008 in Kaduna and also failed to report before the committee when he was given another chance to appear at its December 12 sitting in Abuja.
He said Ribadu's whereabouts are still unknown which amount to desertion of the Police Force, adding that in such circumstances of desertion, the law provides that it is at the discretion of the Commissioner of Police to arrest such a deserter and charge him to court.
Abba, who refused to entertain questions from reporters, disclosed that the PSC met and considered the presentation made to it by the IGP on the recommendation of the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC).
"At the end of the deliberation, the commission dismissed the officer from the Force for acts of gross indiscipline, insubordination and absence from duty", stressing that no single individual is more than the country's national security.
Ribadu's relationship with the Service had been low ever since his removal from the EFCC chair and posting to NIPSS for the one-year course. It turned soured the more when he was demoted. Still, he went to court to challenge his demotion by the Police, and to request that the status quo be maintained until the determination of the suit.
In all this, insinuations were rife that his travails had to do with his conduct of the EFCC powers he wielded while he reigned and those who had an axe to grind with him were out to cut him to size.
Nevertheless, managing his official affairs with his bosses at the Police High Command was another matter. On three occasions, Ribadu has been invited by the Inspector-General of Police to the Police Headquarters to clarify certain cloudy matters and on all occasions, the former EFCC chairman has shunned the invitation.
But the Ribadu saga reached a climax recently, at the graduation ceremony of NIPSS, where he was humiliated by security agents who forcibly removed him from the venue.
As expected, this action sparked an outcry from many quarters in Nigeria with fears that the methods of the Gestapo are now being adopted by the Yar'Adua Administration.
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has since ordered that Nuhu Ribadu's NIPSS certificate be handed over to him, having duly completed his course of study. Following the completion of his course at NIPSS, the Police Command also posted him to Zone 5 Police Command Headquarters in Benin City, Edo State, as a Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration.
However, mixed reactions have trailed Ribadu's dismissal.
In a terse statement, the right activist and lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi said Ribadu's dismissal "is clearly the act of an evil, lawless and corrupt government."
Speaking to The Guardian on the development, President, Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said the action was a flagrant violation of rule of law as being preached by President Yar Adua, noting that Ribadu is already in court challenging his demotion.
In his reaction, Mr. Emeka Ngige (SAN) described the development as not surprising, going by the way the event has taken place before now when they removed him from office on the excuse that he is going for a course.
"What the government is doing to him is unfair, unjust and unconstitutional. On the other hand, what is happening is a manifestation of "use and dump" policy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government. It is a manifestation of Nemesis and lesson for those in position of authority," he said.
To Chief Ebenezer Babatope, the development is interesting as he said that if they sacked him because of the work he did in EFCC, it is not fair, but if they sacked him because of what he did in the Police, they should supply Nigerians with evidence.
In his reaction, Mike Igini, a lawyer and public affairs analyst, told The Guardian that it is heart-touching for a man who risked everything to fight corruption to be treated like this by some cabal in government.
President, Transparency International, General, Ishola William (rtd), commended the action of the Police Service Commission, arguing that Ribadu as service officer flouted the rules and regulations of the force.
"There are procedures within the force to seek redress and Ribadu failed to follow them, rather he rushed to court. Now that he is dismissed, he can now go to court," he said.
Former Governor of Kaduna State and Chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said what is happening to Ribadu should be of concern to every Nigerian because it can happen to anybody, especially when the power- that-be are after you for stepping on their toes.
"Unfortunately, Nigerians are not combatant. That is why government can do something like this and get away with it. The development is a threat to all public officers."
The Executive Director, Socio- Economic Rights and Accountability (SERAP), Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, condemned the dismissal and called on President Yar'Adua to order a reversal.
RIBADU dismissed from police
ReplyDelete…Found guilty on 8 charges
• May be arrested, and arraigned for desertion
From MURPHY GANAGANA, Abuja
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
• Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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The Police Service Commission [PSC] has approved the dismissal of embattled former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC], Mallam Nuhu Ribadu from the Nigeria Police Force.
Suleiman Abbah, a Commissioner of police and Deputy Force Secretary, announced Ribadu’s dismissal at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, citing gross indiscipline, insubordination and absence from duty as major reasons for the action.
Abbah, who read a prepared statement on behalf of the Inspector General of police, Mike Okiro, expressed dismay that even as the police high command had been liberal with the former anti-graft czar in the face of glaring misconduct, he was unrepentant and chose to tread the path of indiscipline, confrontation and destruction never known before in the history of the Nigeria Police Force.
The police authorities found him guilty on eight charges, including improper dressing by appearing in plain clothes while on official courtesy visit to President Umaru Yar’Adua, institution of legal proceedings against the IGP, PSC, and the Federal Government of Nigeria, among others.
While noting that Ribadu’s whereabouts remained unknown to the police authorities since the completion of his course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies [NIPSS], Kuru, Plateau State, Abbah stressed that the conduct amounted to desertion, for which the penalty was arrest and arraignment in a law court.
A terse six-page statement entitled ‘Press Statement by the Office of the Force Secretary on Series of Acts of Indiscipline by DCP Nuhu Ribadu’ reads:
“You will recall that early in the year, DCP Nuhu Ribadu, by then an Assistant Inspector General of Police [AIG] was among six senior police officers nominated and sent on Senior Executive Course at NIPSS, Kuru –Jos.
Incidentally, while on course, because of various petitions on illegal and unauthorized promotions that were carried out without the consent of the Police Service Commission, the Commission had to have a look at the promotions, whereby 139 police officers who were wrongfully promoted, were reduced to their appropriate ranks. DCP Nuhu Ribadu happened to be one of those affected in this exercise.
Surprisingly, Mallam Ribadu took the path of indiscipline, confrontation and destruction never known before in the Force, forgetting that discipline is the bedrock upon which the Force rests. Unlike the path taken by his other colleagues whose promotions were also withdrawn and have been performing their duties without acrimony, he refused to accept his fate or seek redress of any perceived injustice in the appropriate manner.
Nuhu Ribadu’s case is not and has not been the only instance where officers have been reduced in rank in the history of the Nigeria Police Force, and hell was not let loose. His conduct is not only inimical to the enforcement of discipline in the Nigeria police, but it also created disharmony amongst officers and encouraged indiscipline among members of the Force. The following are some of the misconducts he embarked upon after his demotion:
• Improper dressing by appearing in plain clothes while on official courtesy visit to Mr. President on November 13, 2008, with other NIPSS course participants, contrary to rule 030301[k] of the Public Service Rules.
• Institution of legal proceedings against the IGP, AGF and the Police Service Commission on October 2, 2008, at the Federal High Court in Lagos. Such action without proper authority from Government is a conduct prejudicial to discipline, proper administration of the Force, and unbecoming of the officer, contrary to Sections 352 and 367 of the Police Act and against rules 030402 and 030301 of the Public Service Rules 2006.
• Institution of legal proceedings against EFCC and the Attorney General of the Federation contrary to Sections 352 and 367 of the Police Act and rules 030301 and 030402 of the Public Service Rules, 2006. His action was to forestall the directives given to him to meet with the request of the EFCC Chairman with regards to hand over to her, official documents in his possession. This amounts to disobedience to lawful order.
The officer flagrantly refused to obey the order and directives of the IGP to report to the office of the IGP on November 24, 2008, along with his NIPSS course mates at the completion of their studies. Similarly, the officer failed to obey the order and directives to the effect that he should report at my office on November 25, 2008, where he was to be advised to report to the Chairman of the EFCC as earlier directed, contrary to rules 030401 and 030301[m] of the Public Service Rules, 2006.
• The officer also instituted legal proceedings against the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the Community Court of Justice of ECOWAS, Abuja on December 2, 2008, contrary to Sections 352 and 367 of the Police Act.
• Furthermore, the officer disregarded his posting order and refused to proceed on transfer when he was posted to Zone 5 Benin as DCP in charge of Administration, since November 21, 2008, contrary to Sections 349, 348 and 347 of the Police Act, and rules 030301, 030401[e], 030413, 030402[w] and 030428 of the Public Service Rules, 2006.
• The officer also refused to avail himself of the opportunity given to defend himself of all the above charges before a Disciplinary Committee at its December 4, 2008 sitting in Kaduna. He similarly failed to report before the Committee when he was given another chance to appear at its December 12, 2008 sitting in Abuja.
• To date, the officer has neither reported back to police authorities at the completion of his course, nor has he complied with the directives to report at his new duty post. In short, the officer’s whereabouts has remained unknown, which amounts to desertion of the Police Force under Section 398 of the Police Act. In circumstances of desertion, the law provides that it is at the discretion of the Commissioner of police to arrest such a deserter and charge him to court.
The obvious consequences of the serious misconduct committed by DCP Nuhu Ribadu as highlighted above tantamount to dismissal from service. Refusal to accept posting or report for duty is a very serious misconduct and may lead to dismissal in the Armed Forces and Police as such action is inimical to national security.
The Police Service Commission therefore met and considered the presentation made to it by the IGP on the recommendation of the Force Disciplinary Committee. At the end of deliberation, the Commission dismissed the officer from the Force for acts of gross indiscipline, insubordination and absence from duty, which are singularly and collectively acts punishable under rules 030401 of Public Service Rules 2006.
Do not forget that no single individual is more important that our national security.”
Home Our Papers Daily Trust News Ribadu’s removal constitutional -Yadudu
ReplyDeleteRibadu’s removal constitutional -Yadudu
Written by Hassan A. Karofi, Kano
Thursday, 25 December 2008
Renowned constitutional lawyer Professor Auwalu Hamisu Yadudu yes-terday said the dismissal of for-mer EFCC chairman Malam Nuhu Ribadu was constitu-tional and could not affect the fight against corruption in the country.
He said the police service commission has only taken a purely disciplinary action after exhausting all avenues to make the former EFCC boss appear before it to defend himself.
He told Daily Trust that based on the evidence of acts, rules and regulations cited by the police service commission and the fact that Malam Nuhu Riba-du was given adequate chance to defend himself by the com-mission but failed, his dismissal could not have negated any constitutional provision.
He said the fact that Malam Nuhu Ribadu has challenged the disciplinary action in court does not mean the PSC could not take any disciplinary action against him since the court may not have given an order preven-ting the PSC from going ahead to take any disciplinary action against him.
“From my understanding is that the PSC has taken a purely disciplinary action which as far as they are concerned, due pro-cess was followed. Because they have queried, given him op-portunity to defend himself and all other necessary avenues but he failed to appear before them”, he said.
Professor Yadudu also said “from the relevant police discip-linary procedures, the dismissal was simply and purely a dis-ciplinary action that has all the backing of law, and what they did does not therefore affect the rule of law”.
He said although the former EFCC boss could still challenge his dismissal by proving to the court that his removal and the disciplinary action against him was done unfairly, “he has to prove to the court against all the evidences the PSC has given for his sack”.
Yadudu said the action of the PSC from the onset has shown it was not a targeted vendetta as it affects many other officers who submitted to the police regulations.
“I am certain the police have given Nuhu Ribdau all the chances to defend himself, now it is for him to appear before the court to and satisfy them that his dismissal was unfairly done”, he said.
The professor also dismissed the assertions that the dismissal could affect the ongoing fight against corruption, saying that the fact someone has led an anti corruption agency could not mean he is immune to prosecution if found guilty of indiscipline as the case against Ribadu.
“I personally do not think his dismissal will send any message other than what the police are saying, that it is simply a disciplinary action”, he said.
Kudos, Knocks over Ribadu’s Dismissal
ReplyDelete•Shekarau: He deserves it •Bafarawa: Sack unlawful
From Onwuka Nzeshi in Abuja, Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano, 12.25.2008
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Tuesday’s sack of former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, from the Nigeria Police Force has been described as unlawful by some opposition political parties, but Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State has welcomed the development, describing Ribadu as a “disctator”.
Police authorities had announced the dismissal of Ribadu “for acts of gross indiscipline, insubordination and absence from duty which are singularly and collectively acts punishable under rules 030401 of Public Service Rules 2006”.
Shekarau said that the dismissal “has come at the right time” owing to Ribadu’s utterances under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Shekarau, who was speaking during a media interactive session with journalists in Kano, said that he had forgotten and forgiven Ribadu over all the allegations of corruption Ribadu levelled against him last year.
The governor, whose re-election ambition was almost stopped by EFCC which raised allegations against him bordering on a fertilizer deal, likened Ribadu to a dictator “who fell victim of his own draconian laws”.
“I want to say all these with a sense of humility, a year and a half ago, my very good friend Ribadu, was parading us as thieves, as rogues, he was making headlines that he was going to prosecute us, and that all the governors are thieves.
He said as far as Ribadu was concerned, Obasanjo was the only clean man in the country, “but the power sector probe has proved Ribadu wrong”.
The governor maintained that recent developments had shown that Ribadu was selective in his actions.
He added: “When I saw him on the pages of the newspapers trying to explain himself, I wished I had his ears now. Honestly, as a Muslim, I do not wish any evil to anybody. I have forgotten and I have forgiven. My only interpretation is that he is going through the process of the teachings by the Almighty God, who teaches us that you should love others as you love yourself. That is the message of Islam.”
The Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) presidential candidate in the April 2007 election and former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, has however expressed disgust at the dismissal, saying the process was not fair.
“Ribadu’s sack from the police force is unfair and unconstitutional. I am not happy with the way he was treated after serving the nation. In fact, many people see the process as a witch-hunt right from when he was maltreated at NIPSS Jos. Thus, to dismiss him while the case is still in court is ridiculous and total disregard to the rule of law being preached by the present administration,” Bafarawa lamented.
While describing the current pace of governance in the country as very slow, Bafarawa appealed to the people to give their support to the current leadership in order to move the nation to the next level.
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) also condemned the dismissal, describing it as “lawlessness, illegality and a negation of the rule of law”.
The party's gubernatorial candidate in the 2007 elections in Delta State, Comrade Odafe Igbini, who spoke on behalf of the party, said the dismissal had proved that President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's administration had plans to destroy all the successes recorded by the last administration in the area of war on corruption.
He described the activities of corrupt Nigerians as another form of terrorism and argued that while the government and citizens of the United States, United Kingdom and the rest of the world were in support of efforts to stamp out their own form of terrorism, the Nigerian situation had become totally different with the attitude of the Nigerian government towards corruption since the end of the Obasanjo era.
He accused Yar’Adua of dragging Nigeria back into the league of nations who encourage terrorism and heinous crimes through the institutionalisation of lawlessness and tacit support for official corruption, financial crimes and money laundering.
"The actions of our corrupt political elite can only be compared to the actions of the terrorists who bombed and destroyed lives and properties in the US, UK, Spain, Kenya, Somalia, Indonesia, Russia and all other parts of the world. War on corruption is our own version of the war on terror that Nigerians like Americans overwhelmingly demanded for and supported their government and security agents in fighting. But all the actions so far taken by the Yar’Adua government and his agents including the Attorney General of the Federation, Police Service Commission, the Inspector General of Police and all others, continue to remain acts of lawlessness and illegality.
“As far as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the EFCC Act 2004 and all other relevant laws of Nigeria are concerned, the reappointment of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as Chairman of the EFCC was confirmed by the Senate of Nigeria in April 2007 when he appeared for screening. It is a fact that he received an overwhelming applause from them after his presentation. Their refusal to expressly reject his re-nomination on that day and till date remains a confirmation of their approval for his second term.
“The only ground to remove Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is clearly stated in the EFCC Act which states that a member of the commission may be removed by the President for inability to discharge the functions of his office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or any other cause), for misconduct or if the President is satisfied that it is not in the interest of the Commission or the interest of the public that the member should continue. Mr President and his Attorney General who claim to respect the rule of law must abide by this Section of the law," Igbini said.
He also expressed dismay that after risking his life to confront corruption, Ribadu has been left to his own fate by Nigerians and even the international community that applauded him in the years past for bravery.
Ribadu: Nigerians petition Yar’Adua, UN
ReplyDeleteBy Tobi Soniyi, Emmanuel Obe, Tony Amokeodo and Jude Owuamanam
Published: Friday, 26 Dec 2008
Four Hundred Nigerians have sent a petition to President Umaru Musa Yar‘Adua and the United Nations protesting the harassment of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, from the Nigerian Police Force.
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Former Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
The petition, which was copied the African Union and the European Union is accessible at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/he4e6789/petition.html. The website is operated by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.
In the petition, which was written before Ribadu’s dismissal by the Police Service Commission on Tuesday, the concerned Nigerians said they were disturbed by the alleged plot to arrest the former EFCC chairman.
They, therefore, requested Yar’Adua to put an end to the plot and ensure Ribadu’s protection.
They also called on the UN, EU and AU “to put pressure on the government of Nigeria to stop threats of arrest, harassment and intimidation against him (Ribadu).”
A copy of the petition reads, ”We, the undersigned, are very concerned about the possible torture (or ill and degrading treatment) of Mallam Ribadu, former EFCC chairman.
”We are deeply worried that on Saturday, November 22, 2008, Ribadu was forcibly dragged out of the hall of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies by the security forces during a graduation ceremony.
”We are also saddened that Ribadu‘s travail is based solely on his human rights and anti-corruption campaign while he was the chairman of the EFCC.
“We believe his continuing harassment is a serious violation of the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders) adopted by the General Assembly in 1999.
”We are worried that the harassment of a human rights and anti-corruption campaigner is retaliatory, and raises doubts about the willingness of the government of Nigeria to fight corruption and to uphold its good faith obligations to its citizens, including under the UN Convention against Corruption, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples‘ Rights.
”We are further concerned that coming at a time when Nigeria is hosting the 44th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples‘ Rights in Abuja, Ribadu‘s arrest and detention is not consistent with the attitude of a government supposedly committed to the rule of law.”
One signatory to the petition said, ”One advice to the nation is that if Nigeria so humiliates him (Ribadu) to dismiss him from service, that will be a promotion for him as the international community will be ready to tap his wealth of experience.
“This will be a loss to Nigeria. Today, it is Ribadu, tomorrow it could be me. This thought can create lack of interest in the people, particularly young people in serving the nation honestly and with absolute commitment.
“If this country is run by crucifying honesty, zealousness and hardwork, Vision 2020 is dead before birth. The only problem and all the problems that Nigeria has is corruption. It is the only reason nothing is working. Save Ribadu and save our future.”
Meanwhile, three non-governmental organisations— League for Human Rights, Access to Justice, and International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law — have condemned Ribadu’s dismissal from the Police.
While the LHR described it as a negation of the respect for rule of law, AJ argued that it amounted to “gratuitous contempt for the authority and process of the judiciary.”
To the ISCLRL, the action was simply an act of “political vendetta.”
In its reaction, the AJ said it was wrong for the PSC and Police to take a disciplinary action against the former chairman of the EFCC when a suit challenging his demotion was yet to be determined.
It said in a statement by its Executive Director, Mr. Joseph Otteh, that ” by taking action before the resolution of the pending case, the PSC, a body created by the constitution, acted beyond and above the 1999 Constitution which creates it and from where it derives its powers.”
The group added, “It is a well-established principle of law that parties to a lawsuit subordinate themselves to the authority of the court and refrain from taking actions that would jeopardise the just resolution of a dispute submitted for determination.
“The PSC has acted with a standard of calculated and brash lawlessness that is second to none; to think that this blatant and brutal lawlessness is taking place in a democracy and under a regime that is pledged to the rule of law is obfuscating and completely unacceptable.
”To remember that the PSC itself has bemoaned actions taken by previous governments that usurped its own powers to promote police officers and had itself reversed the promotions - including those of Ribadu - in order to uphold the rule of law mostly shows that while the PSC is mouthing the mantra of the rule of law, and using this to cultivate favourable public sentiment, it is mostly living the lie in its own universe, and perhaps doing more to harm the rule of law in a more sinister way.”
It, therefore, urged the PSC and the Police to reverse Ribadu‘s dismissal and stay further actions until his suit pending was determined.
On its part, the ISCLRL said the PSC action was, “vexatious, criminal, unconstitutional and a despicable act of political vendetta.”
It said that the illegality of the action was embedded in the fact that the decision to dismiss Ribadu from the Police was announced by the Inspector-General of Police instead of the PSC.
A statement by the Chairman of the group’s Board of Trustees, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, reads in part, “Today, difference exists no more between the PSC and the Nigeria Police High Command.
“If they can dismiss a gallant officer who proved to the world that there still exist a few officers in the police force that cannot be purchased, whose professionalism and incorruptibility go beyond the parameters of the force, what happens to thousands of corrupt and extortionist police officers, who brazenly rob innocent Nigerians with guns on Nigerian roads on daily basis?
“Today, the IGP transfers, promotes, dismisses, demotes, recruits, etc police officers, while the PSC slots in signature.
The Acting Executive Director of the LHR, Mr. Peter Gad Shamaki, said a government that respects the rule of law should have allowed the case filed by Ribadu to be concluded before any further action could be taken against him.
Shamaki told our correspondent in an interview in Jos on Thursday that a lot of Nigerians felt disappointed about all the actions taken against Ribadu in the past few months.
He said, “There is no better place to seek redress than the court of law and we thought that since Ribadu decided to go to court, we expected the Nigerian Police Force , the PSC , the Federal Government and even Mr. President himself to have honoured that singular fact by saying, look, let’s allow the court to make a pronouncement on this before we decide the fate of this man.”
Home Our Papers Daily Trust Lead story Senate condemns Ribadu’s dismissal
ReplyDeleteSenate condemns Ribadu’s dismissal
Written by Abdul-Rahman Abubakar
Friday, 26 December 2008
former Chairman (EFCC), Malam Nuhu RibaduThe Senate has condemned the dismissal of former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Malam Nuhu Ribadu by the Police authorities.
Speaking to Daily Trust by telephone, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Sola Akinyede (PDP, Ekiti) said the action of the police was worrisome.
According to him, “In view of the fact that Ribadu is in court trying to stop the police from taking action against him and in view of the resilient manner with which he fought corruption in the country, this action is worrisome.”
Akinyede said the action of the police is likely to send wrong signal to the future generation of Nigerians as well as rank and file of the police especially as related to fight against corruption in the country.
“This will send a wrong signal to our youths, to the officers and men of the police as well as the international community. The consequences whether intended or unintended portends dangerous signal to the anti-corruption crusade,” he said.
Akinyede said Nigerians would find it difficult to divorce the sack of Ribadu from the manner which he exposed some top politicians and government officials allegedly involved in corruption during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
On insinuations that Ribadu is being hunted by some politicians that he had exposed in the past, Akinyede said, “I don’t know, but what I am saying is that his sack is a wrong signal to the younger generation. Some will see what has happened to him as a consequence of his resilient fight against corruption. The whole thing has not been properly managed.”
Cleric, NCP chieftain fault Ribadu’s dismissal
ReplyDeleteBy Ademola Oni, Abeokuta and Olalekan Adetayo
Published: Saturday, 27 Dec 2008
The Bishop of Ijebu Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Ayo Awosoga, has picked holes in the dismissal of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, by the Police Service Commission.
Awosoga, who delivered the sermon at the Christmas service at the Cathedral Church of St. Saviour, Italawajoda, Ijebu Ode, described the sack of Ribadu as a great setback to the fight against corruption by the President Umaru Yar‘Adua led-government. He said the development was capable of taking the anti-corruption crusade “back to square one.”
Awosoga said, “The events leading to the dismissal of this man had shown that the government had mapped out a plan to get rid of this man. But we need to examine ourselves to see if we are really doing the right thing.
“We have allowed people who are corrupt, who occupy public office with the ambition of enriching themselves, to think that they can get away with whatever crime and stealing they perpetrate. Ribadu is the only man that has helped the nation to fight corruption.”
Awosoga, who appealed to the government at all levels to attend to the needs of the people in order to alleviate their hardship, called on the Federal Government to tackle the problem of power generation in the country. He warned that the poor power situation was a serious hindrance to the industrialisation of the country.
The cleric called for the privatisation of the power sector, describing the Power Holding Company of Nigeria as a disappointment to Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party in the 2007 election in Ogun State, Mr. Lanre Banjo, has described the dismissal of the former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, from the police force as as a bad omen for a country that is in dire need of patriotic men and women.
Banjo made the observation in a statement made available to our correspondent on Friday.
He said that Ribadu‘s dismissal had sent a signal to Nigerians that if they did their jobs diligently with patriotism, they would be humiliated for it.
He said the decision had further proved the government of President Umaru Yar‘Adua to be totally untrustworthy and unserious about fighting corruption.
He said, ”When Yar‘Adua started to play the polo game, I sensed the beginning of the foul play against Ribadu. The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), hiding under the rule of law, kicked the first polo game by denouncing Ribadu on the pages of newspapers and fighting the EFCC‘s lawyer in court for something the two ministries of Federal Government could have come together to resolve before coming to court and without the attendant publicity.
”We witnessed two parastatals serving one sick and indivisible government fighting on the pages of newspapers, with the AGF making the loudest noise. Secondly, the AGF attempted to bring the commission under him so that he could dictate who to prosecute. At the time he was trying to bring EFCC under his office, he never raised the issue of reconfirmation of Ribadu by the Senate.
”Then he wanted to bring what he later called ‘an illegal chairman‘ of the commission under his office. After that failed, they passed the game of polo to the Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro to do the hatchet job. It would have been too obvious if the AGF who initially claimed that the EFCC should be under him to direct Ribadu and Ibrahim Lamorde to report to Kuru.
”Okiro ordered Ribadu to go on a year course at Kuru for ‘his personal development, because Ribadu is an IGP material.‘ The government of Yar‘Adua lied to us that it is building an institution. While at the NIPSS, Ribadu was demoted. Being a man, Ribadu challenged the authority in Court and now the man is dismissed by a body not authorised by the laws of the land to terminate him regardless of the case in Court. The hypocrisy of the people by whose nationality they call me became glaring.”
Banjo warned that although the powerful Nigerians on whose toes Ribadu had stepped may be laughing over his travails, their laughter would not last forever.
He said that although Ribadu was not perfect, he deserved approbation for his activities at the EFCC and not humiliation.
”To President Yar’Adua, when a government loses credibility, such a government will lack the authority to moralise on its citizens. Your government has cajoled us and has engaged in a tortuous journey wasting public fund to arrive at today‘s dismissal of Nuhu Ribadu. Behold, Mr. President, the patience of those of us wishing Nigeria well is wearing thin.”
Ribadu Gets Sack Letter
ReplyDeleteBy Olusola Balogun, Lagos and Augustine Mad-West, Kano
Embattled former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, was on Wednesday afternoon handed his sack letter by the Police Service Commission (PSC).
That happened as his team of lawyers perfects plans to slam a contempt charge on his employers over his dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force.
The former EFCC boss had on Wednesday held a closed door session with his counsel, Charles Musa, at his Abuja home preparatory to the legal battle against the PSC and the Police.
It was learnt that Ribadu and his defence team reviewed the content of the sack letter and marshaled the scope of the impending legal assault.
It was gathered that a coalition of lawyers would represent him.
A close associate of the former EFCC boss told Saturday Independent that "he got the news (of his dismissal) from the newspapers like everyone else and he was given the letter later on Wednesday. He has already contacted his lawyer to look at it and examine ways of reversing it."
The PSC had on Tuesday, acting under the recommendation of the Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, announced the dismissal of the bespectacled police officer.
The PSC had met on Monday to consider the presentation made to it by the IGP on the recommendation of the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) on Ribadu.
At the end of deliberation, the PSC dismissed Ribadu for "acts of gross indiscipline, insubordination and absence from duty, which are singularly and collectively acts punishable under rules 030401 of Public Service Rules 2006."
Announcing the dismissal, the Deputy Force Secretary, Suleiman Abba, a Commissioner of Police, explained that the rules stated that "serious misconduct is a specific act of various wrongdoing and improper behaviour, which is inimical to the image of the service and which can be investigated and if proven, may lead to dismissal."
According to him, Ribadu's intransigence soon after his demotion along with 139 others by the PSC in August led to his sack from the force.
Among the series of misconducts levelled against Ribadu were improper dressing by appearing in plain clothes, while on official courtesy visit to President Umaru Yar'Adua on November 13, a breach of rule 030301(k) of the Public Service Rules 2006, institution of legal proceedings against the IGP, Attorney-General of the Federation, and the PSC on October 2, also a violation of sections 352 and 367 of the Police Act and rules 030402 and 030301 of Public Service Rules 2006.
Ribadu was also accused of running foul of the listed sections of the Police Act and Public Service Rules by instituting legal proceedings against the EFCC and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) purportedly to forestall complying with the directive to hand over official documents in his possession. The Police High Command considered this as disobedience to lawful order contrary to rules 030401 and 030301(m) of the Public Service Rules 2006.
He was also accused of flagrant refusal to obey the order and directives of the IGP to report to the office of the IGP on November 24, on completion of his studies and failure to comply with directives to report at his new duty post, which amounts to desertion and a breach of section 398 of the Police Act among other sundry misconduct.
The police was equally unhappy that he instituted a legal action against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Police and the PSC at the Community Court of Justice of ECOWAS, Abuja on December 2. But the ally of Ribadu, while decrying the manner the former EFCC boss was treated, boasted that the action "will not stand."
Ribadu's personal lawyer, Charles Musa, initially described the PSC action as a flagrant abuse of the Constitution, disregard of judicial process, and a mockery of the rule of law.
Musa said that the legal team of the former EFCC boss was already working on how to get the matter reversed in court:
"We are ready to go to court after the holidays. We have always worked with a team of lawyers to defend Ribadu's fundamental human rights. This case will not be different from our normal approach," he said.
Ribadu's lead counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), who also expressed surprise at the decision of the PSC, said that the "purported dismissal was carried out even when there is a subsisting suit and they are aware of it. No doubt this will be challenged in court and we have actually commenced the process of pressing contempt charges on the PSC. The action was done in contempt of the ECOWAS court and we will see how it goes."
Pressed further, he revealed that the legal team of the former EFCC boss will commence action "immediately the yuletide is over."
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, also expressed optimism that Ribadu would laugh last in his legal battle against the PSC and the police.
Falana said: "Once a matter has gone to court, you should allow it to run its full course. What the PSC and the Nigeria Police did was actually contempt of court. They should have waited for the decision of the court before rushing to dismiss Ribadu from the police.
"What the regime has done is to expose its alleged rule of law policy to public ridicule."
But renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Auwalu Yadudu on Friday backed the dismissal of Ribadu and said it was constitutional and could not affect the fight against corruption in the country.
He said the PSC has only taken a purely disciplinary action after exhausting all avenues to make the former EFCC boss appear before it to defend himself.
He said that based on the evidence of acts, rules and regulations cited by the PSC and the fact that Ribadu was given adequate chance to defend himself by the commission but failed, his dismissal could not have negated any constitutional provision.
He said the fact that Ribadu has challenged the disciplinary action in court does not mean the PSC could not take any disciplinary action against him since the court may not have given an order preventing the PSC from going ahead to take any disciplinary action against him.
"From my understanding, the PSC has taken a purely disciplinary action for which, as far as they are concerned, due process was followed. Because they have queried, given him opportunity to defend himself and all other necessary avenues but he failed to appear before them," he said.
Yadudu also said "from the relevant police disciplinary procedures, the dismissal was simply and purely a disciplinary action that has all the backing of law, and what they did does not therefore affect the rule of law."
He said although the former EFCC boss could still challenge his dismissal by proving to the court that his removal and the disciplinary action against him was done unfairly, "he has to prove to the court against all the evidences the PSC has given for his sack."
Yadudu said the action of the PSC from the onset has shown it was not a targeted vendetta as it affects many other officers who submitted to the police regulations.
"I am certain the police have given Ribadu all the chances to defend himself, now it is for him to appear before the court to satisfy them that his dismissal was unfairly done," he said.
The professor also dismissed the assertion that the dismissal could affect the ongoing fight against corruption, saying that the fact that someone has led an anti-corruption agency does not mean he is immune to prosecution if found guilty of indiscipline as the case against Ribadu.
"I personally do not think his dismissal will send any message other than what the police are saying, that it is simply a disciplinary action," he concluded.
The Ribadu travails:•What he did not do right— ACF, Shagaya, Dan-Musa, others
ReplyDeleteWritten by Chioma Gabriel
Saturday, 27 December 2008
•We should be praying for a better 2009 — Umar
THE last chapter of the travails of former Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, boss, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, is perhaps being written with his sack last Tuesday by the Police “for acts of gross indiscipline, insubordination and absence from duty which are singularly and collectively acts punishable under rules 030401 of Public Service Rules 2006”.
But Ribadu’s many travails could have been avoided if he had tackled them wisely. This view was expressed by the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, amongst other Nigerians who reacted to his recent sack .
The northern socio-cultural group, said Ribadu could have saved himself the embarrassment if he had followed the rules and regulations governing the Police Force.
Alhaji Haruna, President-General of Arewa Consultative Forum, told Saturday Vanguard that Ribadu could have saved himself the problem if he had obtained a court order prohibiting the Police from taking any action against him until the case he filed against the police in court is concluded.
“I don’t think Ribadu would have wanted his career to end the way it did. He is a member of the police and is subject to the rules and regulations governing the Force. He should know from the way things were going that it would come to this and therefore should have taken action to guard against it.
If the court had granted a stay on the Police proceedings, he could have stopped what happened but he can still challenge his misfortune because I don’t think Ribadu would have wanted his career to end this way.
“I believe the Police acted within the law but he (Ribadu) did nothing to counter that. Well, it has happened and we wish him luck in his other endeavour.”
For Abubakar Dan-Musa, the Second Republic Speaker of Kaduna House of Assembly who presided over the impeachment of Balarabe Musa as governor , Ribadu’s sack did not come as a surprise.
“ Everybody saw it coming. Really, we have got to a situation where we ought to start praying seriously for this country because the situation is so chaotic that one does not know what to think. It all boils down to the fact that there is too much corruption in everything. There is no government to tackle the unfortunate situation in which Nigerians now found themselves. It’s very unfortunate.
“But I still believe Ribadu can push his case in the courts. You know, this will show if the present government is really abiding by the rule of law or not. Ribadu can still continue with the case. What I am not sure of is what is stipulated in the Police Act in respect of institution of an action by a police officer. I do know certainly that the police don’t just go to court. They must observe that stipulation before going to court. If Ribadu has erred against the Police or vice-versa, he must certainly seek internal remedies before going to court.
“To me, the truth about Ribadu is that he did his best as EFCC chairman but he over-stepped his boundary. He disregarded so many court orders. So, this is really something to learn from, that life is very funny. When you find yourself in a position of authority, you should be humble. That is it.”
The Third Republic governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife also thinks that Ribadu shouldn’t have let things go this far.
“He should have resigned when they removed him and sent him on an emergency course to Kuru but he did not. They demoted him from AIG to DCP and he stayed on. All the signs were there. He ought to have resigned rather than let himself be humiliated like this. I expected him to have resigned before now instead of facing all these problems. Reduction in his rank is a signal for him to go or be removed. But he has sued the Police and I think the case should conclude.”
General John Shagaya, a serving senator in his reaction told Saturday Vanguard that in the Forces, there are rules and disciplinary measures also apply.
“I served in the military and we know these things. We know the rules and the consequences of not abiding by them. In the Forces, discipline apply. That is all I can tell you on this matter.”
Despite his initial anger at the way Ribadu carried on as the EFCC boss, former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, would not subscribe to the manner he was being treated.
“Ribadu knew from the onset when he was being recruited that he was being used to deal with former President Obasanjo’s political enemies and yet, he accepted the job. He knew he was tackling corruption selectively and was doing the bidding of his masters. He disregarded the rule of law and carried on without care, stepping on toes in the process.
“But along the line, his conscience started pricking him and he began to do things the right way. He began to exceed his boundary and in the process drew the ire of his masters, that is the government. They decided to checkmate him. They used the Attorney-General of the Federation to counter some of the things he was doing and later forced him on a course to the School of Strategic Studies under the guise of preparing him for a more challenging position. They demoted him instead and things did not get well for him.
“Nigerians need to learn a lot from the Ribadu experience and people who get government appointments should mind the way they carry on and understand they are being used and if they are not careful, they could go the Ribadu way. This is a revelation of sorts. The Ribadu experience is just a case of how not to be an overzealous government official.”
But when viewed from the Police angle, Ribadu is perceived differently. According to Eyiwunmi Tosan, presenter of Crime Fighters, on Television, Ribadu began to have problems with the Police when he disregarded the two disciplinary committees set up by the Police authorities to investigate allegations of misconduct against him.
The former Crime Correspondent who works closely with the Police said Ribadu disregarded both the DIG Adewale Adeoye Committee and the DIG Ogbonna Onovo Committee set up by the Police to look into the allegations of acts of indiscipline committed by him especially his refusal to honour his posting to Edo State to serve as Deputy Commissioner of Police after he concluded his course at Kuru in Plateau State.
“Both Committees recommended Ribadu’s dismissal for acts of gross indiscipline and insubordination. The most offensive thing he committed was his refusal to go to Edo State where he was posted to serve on concluding his course at Kuru.”
Asked to comment on it, Kastina-based Public Commentator, Colonel Abubakar Umar, would not like to be dragged into the argument of whether it was right or wrong for the Police to sack Ribadu.
“The year 2008 is coming to an end and we need to be celebrating and be praying for the coming year to be better because things are not the way they ought to be in Nigeria. We should be praying for a better Nigeria. There are too many things requiring urgent attention in this country and as Christians are celebrating Xmas, they should include these in their prayer points. These are serious things indeed and we should be praying”, he said.
Indeed, there are indications that Nuhu Ribadu might have briefed his lawyers to challenge his dismissal and until that aspect of his travails is concluded, one cannot say for sure if the last chapter of this true-life story of an officer who gave all it requires to tackle corruption is concluded.
US-based Nigerians, NCP flay FG on Ribadu
ReplyDeleteBy Fidelis Soriwei
Published: Sunday, 28 Dec 2008
Some Nigerians resident in the United States weekend appraised the fate of former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, positing that the treatment meted out to him by the Federal Government was questionable.
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former Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
Also, the National Conscience Party has flayed the action.
The Empowered Newswire is reported as saying that Nigerian professionals in the US did not agree on whether Ribadu had some questions to answer regarding some of his own controversial actions suspected to have political colouration.
A New York based lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Lawyers Association, Shamsey Oloko, said he could not see how the ”dress-down” meted out to Ribadu would be helpful for national development.
But he was not willing to give Ribadu a carte blanche at the same time, adding that ”Notwithstanding, Mr. Ribadu has yet to explain why his prosecution efforts were blind to the newly uncovered misappropriations committed by those within and close to the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration.”
However, the Executive Director of the New York based Nigeria Democratic Liberty Forum, Mr. Bukola Oreofe, stated that ”the travails of Ribadu illustrate the decadence and all that is wrong with Nigeria.”
Oreofe said Nigeria has witnessed ”to what extent the members of the political class would go to protect themselves. It is clear that those who were embarrassed by Ribadu‘s activities at the EFCC used their closeness to power to ensure his fate. The Attorney General of the Federation was unambiguous in declaring where his interest lies between upholding the law, doing what is right for the country and protecting the corrupt governors and former political office holders.”
The NDLF leader recalled the ”criminal trial of former governor James Ibori in the UK and the lull in the fight against corruption,” arguing that ”what we are seeing is the convergence of lawlessness and retaliation which consequently is an attack on the critical aspect of the need to root out corruption in Nigeria.
“It is obvious that successive effort to fight corruption is permanently impaired by Ribadu‘s ordeal which is a deterrent to any effort at confronting this canker worm.”
On whether the former EFCC chairman deserved a demotion and a sack, Oreofe said that was a matter the courts should decide in the circumstances.
According to him, ”The appropriateness or otherwise of Ribadu‘s demotion would have been an issue left to the courts to decide upon. His treatment at Kuru and his sack was an obscene, arrogant use of transient power. One of the coveted duty of government is the protection of the citizenry but Ribadu was subjected to inhuman treatment by the Federal Government for no just cause.”
He then called on the Federal Government to reverse the sack of Ribadu and asked Nigerians to ”speak up against this executive lawlessness.”
Meanwhile, the NCP National Chairman, Mr. Osagie Obayuwana, has criticised the Federal Government over the dismissal of Ribadu from the Police.
Obayuwana said the action was flawed as Ribadu was being subjected to administrative procedures over issues that were already placed before the court.
Speaking in a telephone interview with SUnday PUNCH on Saturday, Obayuwana said while Ribadu was not a saint, it was incontrovertible that he inspired the imagination of the Nigerians in the fight against corruption.
He said that if the motive of those behind Ribadu’s present travails was to discourage people from championing popular causes in the country, it would backfire against them.
Obayuwana, who was the party’s presidential candidate in the April 2007 elections, urged the Federal Government to display the same level of commitment and enthusiasm with which it pursued the Ribadu issue against those that had been accused of corruption in the country.
He stated that the recent plea bargaining arrangement made on the trial of the former Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, and the claimed opposition against the arrangement by the same EFCC which appointed a panel to look into the deal before the ruling, showed that the commission was not unconscious of the criticisms of the public.
Ribadu: How the hunter was hunted down
ReplyDelete…No respite yet for other OBJ boys
By WILLY EYA & FRANCIS OTTAH AGBO
Sunday, December 28, 2008
•Ribadu
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At last, the hide-and-seek game between former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ended on Tuesday, December 23, 2008. Barely a week to the New Year, the once blossoming career of the tough-talking police officer predictably came to an end.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mike Okiro, in announcing the dismissal of the former anti-corruption Czar had stated that, "his conduct is not only inimical to the enforcement of discipline in the Nigeria Police but it also created disharmony amongst officers and encouraged indiscipline among members of the Force".
The Police boss who broke the news at a briefing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja had said that, "Ribadu’s refusal to accept his posting or report for duty is a very serious misconduct and may lead to dismissal in the Armed Forces and the Police, as such is inimical to national security".
Okiro who was represented by the Deputy Force Secretary and Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Abba, recalled that early in the year, Ribadu, then designated an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, was among the six senior Police Officers sent on a Senior Executive Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.
For many, the development is a continuation of the travails of the kitchen cabinet members of the immediate past administration under Olusegun Obasanjo. In August, the former National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South West, Chief Olabode George was arrested by the EFCC and arraigned in Court over his activities as Chairman, Board of Directors of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Recently, the anti-graft body declared the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Obasanjo’s administration, Mallan Nasir el-Rufai wanted for abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N32 billion. Also, Ribadu’s sack came on the heels of the arrest and arraignment in Court of the former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode over a 47-count charge of money laundering. The dwindling fortune of some close associates of the former President confirms the aphorism, that no condition is permanent.
The fall of Ribadu was long predicted. Shortly after Okiro sent him on a course to NIPSS, Lagos lawyer and Human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi cried blue murder over the development. He predicted that the Police authorities were scheming to frustrate the crime buster out of the EFCC and Police service for daring to prosecute allegedly corrupt sacred cows. Fawehinmi may not have been wrong.
The Adamawa born cop had publicly hand-cuffed his former boss, IGP Tafa Balogun, while taking him to court for trial. Balogun was convicted for corrupt enrichment and money laundering. Since then, the police authority seemed to have vowed not to forgive Ribadu over the embarrassment Balogun’s travails brought to the Para-military organization. Aside this, Ribadu’s EFCC participated in the seeming Kangaroo Administrative Panel of Inquiry that indicted former Vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for alleged misappropriation of the Petroleum Trust Funds (PTF). Ribadu was to participate in the perceived protracted scheming by former President Obasanjo to truncate Abubakar’s political career. In fact, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was to rely on the EFCC report to exclude the former VP from participating in the 2007 presidential election. Abubakar only had a breather few days to the election when the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment set aside his indictment.
Before he took on Abubakar, Ribadu had put General Ibrahim Babangida’s son, Muhammed on the spot. Muhammed was quizzed and detained for days on his instruction. Muhammed was alleged to have shares in Globacom, an indigenous Telecommunications service provider. The commission under the watch of Ribadu also harassed Mike Adenuga, Globacom Chairman out of Nigeria for months. The Ijebu-Ode born business magnet did not return to Nigeria until Yar’Adua took over. Up till this month that Ribadu was fired, the duo has not been arraigned, spawning speculation that the commission had no prima-facie case against Adenuga and Babangida in the first place.
In addition, Ribadu reportedly masterminded the illegal impeachment of Chief Joshua Dariye, immediate past governor of Plateau State. He got six lawmakers in the Plateau State House of Assembly to do what can pass for a hatchet job. Though the court vitiated Dariye’s removal but he and his supporters had not found a place in their hearts to forgive the combustive cop. This was after he had subtly initiated the impeachment of then Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyesiegha using members of the state House of Assembly. Alamieyesieya was prosecuted and convicted after his removal.
Similarly, he charged seven former governors to court on grounds of sleaze. They include: Dr Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu State), Reverend Jolly Nyame (Taraba State), Alhaji Saminu Turaki (Jigawa State) and Joshua Dariye (Plateau State). Others include Chief Ayo Fayose (Ekiti State), former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori and his Abia State colleague, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu.
In almost all the cases handled by the commission under Ribadu, his critics accuse him of outright vendetta or selective justice. The argument is that aside Nnamani, Balogun, Fayose and Turaki who were tagged Obasanjo’s men, all others who were docked were vehemently opposed to the tenure elongation of the former president. Even at that, Fayose and Turaki who were hitherto known as Obasanjo boys had publicly told Nigerians that the EFCC nabbed them because they fell apart with their godfather, fuelling the assumption that Ribadu was Obasanjo’s attack dog.
Chief George, supervised a N100billion contract scam at NPA. All the committees set up to look into the matter confirmed George’s involvement. Only the committee headed by Ribadu absolved the former Deputy National Chairman of PDP. It is widely believed that George was cleared because of his closeness to Obasanjo.
But Ribadu’s fans believe selective justice can not be equal to injustice. They reasoned that all those facing trial actually have questions to answer. They believe Ribadu could not have picked all the suspects at the same time and that was largely why he started with a set of people. Logical as both arguments may have been, what was most certain was that Ribadu had stepped on powerful toes and appeared to be having troubles from all fronts. Therefore, when the Police high command dismissed him from service on December 23, 2008, those who had doubted Fawehinmi ate their words.
Before the anti-climax, Ribadu had been demoted from AIG to DCP by Police Service Commission (PSC) on ground that his elevation did not follow due process. He also had his NIPSS certificate seized until Vice President Goodluck Jonathan intervened. The embattled anti-corruption Czar is already in court to challenge his demotion and dismissal. Will he succeed? The answer is in the womb of time!
God, help Ribadu, Oba of Lagos prays
ReplyDelete•Says Ex-EFCC boss derailed
By ADESINA AIYEKOTI
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Ribadu
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Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Rilwan Akiolu, has described the embattled former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Nuhu Ribadu as one of the best brains in the Nigeria Police Force.
The monarch, however, lamented that Ribadu allowed himself to be used for selective investigation and harassment of political rivals by ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo.
Akiolu made the comment in Lagos at the weekend, at the commissioning a multi-million naira project, “Jabitta Court,” built by notable lawyer and politician, Senator Sikiru Shitta-Bey, the Seriki Musulumi of Lagos.
Blaming the travails of the former EFCC boss on youthful exuberance, Oba Akiolu, who is a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) recalled that he invited Ribadu for talks before the crisis blew out of proportion.
“Ribadu is a very good investigator and I pray and wish there is a way God will bring him out of this problem.
“He is a very good boy. Because of him, and being an alumnus of NIPSS, I was at the last graduation and certificate award ceremony. Honestly, I felt very bad about what happened to him.
“He ought to know that discipline is the bedrock of the Nigeria Police, he shouldn’t have behaved in the way he did because he was driven to the wall,” the traditional ruler said.
Oba Akiolu further said former president Obasanjo succeeded in deceiving Nigerians, arguing that 80 per cent of all projects commissioned by the ex-ruler during his eight-year administration were not in existence.
“Quote me that I, Oba Akiolu, said that 80 per cent of all projects commissioned by Obasanjo during his tenure were not in existence.”
Ribadu’s travails began with his removal as chairman of the EFCC. He was subsequently nominated for a course at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).
While undergoing the one-year course, the Police Service Commission announced the demotion of Ribadu from his AIG rank to deputy commissioner of police, stating that promotions gained by the ex-EFCC boss were illegal.
Apparently peeved by the turn of events, Ribadu neither reverted to his old rank, nor resumed at his new duty post.
He also refused to appear before disciplinary panels, which the police authorities set up to probe allegations of misconducts against him.
His actions then earned him dismissal from the police.
Police: Why Ribadu Was Sacked
ReplyDeleteFrom Ali M.Ali in Abuja, 12.30.2008
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The Police High Command yesterday in Abuja advanced reasons for the sack of the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu .
It said that the erstwhile anti-graft agency boss was dismissed not because he challenged his demotion to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police from Assistant Inspector General (AIG) but because he refused to obey ‘‘lawful orders of his commander , the Inspector –General of Police and for continuously absenting himself from duty without leave or excuse (contrary to section 030402(e) of the Public Service Rules,2006 and sections 347,348,349 of Police Act.’’
Addressing the press yesterday, the new Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel C.S Ojukwu, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), disclosed that Ribadu was only one of two senior officers dismissed in the ending year, adding that 32 Inspectors and other rank and file were dismissed or retired on account of various acts of indiscipline and misconduct.
Ojukwu explained that section 215 of the 1999 Constitution empowered the Inspector-General of Police as the overall Commander of the Police whose orders were obeyed without question by some 371,800 strong men working in 11,781 police stations across 774 local government areas of the country.
According to him, in the year ending, 189 police men and women lost their lives in the course of duty while 102 sustained various degrees of work-related injuries, some of them permanent disabilities.
Ojukwu described as misleading the impression created by some people following the dismissal of Ribadu that Nigeria is a nation that “tolerates and adores indiscipline, truancy and malfeasance by its employees."
According to him, " we all know that this is not true, in deed. Nigeria is a country that cherishes hard work, diligence and dedication to duty. These are virtues captured in the spirit and wordings of our national anthem and pledge.”
He re-stated the commitment of the Nigerian Police under Mike Okiro to contributing its quota to the realisation of the 7-point agenda of President Umar Musa Yar’Adua and his desire to position Nigeria among the 20 developed nations by 2020.
He reminded Nigerians that those who crafted the Constitution made exceptions regarding the rights of members of the Armed Forces and the police, adding that the work of national security was sensitive and therefore demanded absolute discipline and loyalty on the part of officers.
“Indeed, the yellow segment of the Nigerian police colours stands for discipline and resourcefulness while the blue stands for loyalty. An officer who is adjudged disloyal or indisciplined has no place in the Nigerian police as he is seen as a bad egg capable of corrupting the whole,” he affirmed.
Ribadu's arrest was stage managed — OSAYANDE
ReplyDeleteWritten by Simon Ebegbulem
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
BENIN—CHAIRMAN of the Police Service Commission, DIG Parry Osayande (Rtd), yesterday described the widely reported arrest of former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu during his graduation from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies as stage-managed.
Speaking yesterday in Benin on the spate criticisms that have trailed the dismissal of the former EFCC boss by the Police Service Commission, DIG Osayande blamed the press for not investigating the alleged arrest of Ribadu at Kuru during the graduation ceremony because Ribadu himself knows that he was never arrested or whisked away as reported by the media.
Said he: “Like the issue that he was arrested when he was graduating from NIPSS, all the papers wrote that he was whisked away, why did you not investigate that issue? That thing was stage managed and Ribadu knows and you people are writing it.
“The press people were there; why did they not get the picture while he was being arrested? Who arrested him? I believe it was stage-managed. I am a product of the National Institute, we do not do things like that in the National Institute. It is the highest institute academically in the whole country. I am section 11, so I must have been there 19 years before Ribadu went there. “We do not do that because it is a very well respected organisation.
On Ribadu’s dismissal, Osayande argued that people were just being sentimental in their criticisms and insisted that his dismissal was done according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic .
According to him, “ I do not know Ribadu, but I was told he worked under me years ago. That will tell you that I have nothing against him. People are just being sentimental because they do not know the law. Nobody asked me to do any thing, in fact any day that the President or any body tries to control my job, I will quit. All we did on Ribadu’s matter was according to the rule of law nothing else. We followed that law to the letter and I am waiting for any body to fault it,” he stated.
DIG Osanyande lamented that Nigerians “missed the point on this issue. Let me tell you, instead of past governments to invest in the police, they proliferated security organisations in the country. They brought EFCC, Road Safety and Civil Defense, killing the Nigerian Police which is a criminal force established by Section 214 of the constitution, instead of reinforcing the police organisation they were proliferated.
“So what are the tripod on which democracy can survive. It is the Nigerian Police, the Army and other forces including the civil service. But you allowed one to die. This is my mission — to come and reposition the Police so that it will be a friendly and effective police. And the only way we can do it is that the police survive on discipline and the only way we can achieve that and reposition the police is to follow the principles.
“One, there must be fair play, secondly, we must use the rules and regulations in the performance of policing. Thirdly, we will not allow any external force to come and dictate to us what happens in the police because we use rules and regulations to work. Find out, promotions, demotions or what ever shall be based on performance and seniority and this is what I am going to do because I got my mandate from the ultimate of the country and that is the constitution of Nigeria .
“It is a supreme law and any body that comes our way to come and interfere with our job we shall resist it. We followed the law to the letter and the law does not follow the line of sentiments and the lawyers know. Any criticisms so far on his dismissal are based on sentiment. The law does not follow that path. I use proper rules and regulations to arrive at my decision. I have no regrets; if I were to do it three thousand times I will do it the same way,” he asserted.
Osanyande added that those people who are claiming that Ribadu was being punished based on his war on corruption were being ignorant. “They are arguing on the point of ignorance and it will be a calamity for Nigerians to listen to them. And never you make any comment on any serious issue unless you are aware of the facts.
I have three hundred and thirty seven thousand men in the police. The operational hub of any organisation is discipline. So if we allow indiscipline, what will be the fate of the police? This man you are talking about, was he the only person whose promotion was regularized? They were one hundred and forty, why should his matter be a serious issue? We are not talking of performance when he was chairman of EFCC.
We will not arrest Ribadu –IG
ReplyDeleteBy Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja
Published: Tuesday, 30 Dec 2008
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, has said that the police will not arrest the dismissed former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
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Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro
He said that though the police first declared Ribadu a deserter before his sack from the police by the Police Service Commission, there was no need to arrest the ex-anti-corruption czar.
He said that the police authorities only declared Ribadu a deserter in line with the police rules which said that any police officer who failed to report at his duty post for 21 days or absented himself from duty for the same number of days, would be declared a deserter.
Okiro, who spoke through the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, at a news briefing inAbuja, said that if the offences attributed to Ribadu had been allowed to stay, it would have led to a breakdown of law and order in the force.
He said that it was unfortunate that since the dismissal of Ribadu from the force, several commentators had been speaking on the issue, giving the impression that “Nigeria is a nation that tolerates and adores indiscipline, truancy and malfeasance by its employees.”
Rather, he said that Nigeria remained a country that cherished hard work, diligence and dedication to duty.
The police boss said that while officers were entitled to civil liberties, they were not free to refuse postings to any part of the country, or choose which orders to obey and which to ignore.
He said, “Disobedience to lawful orders of a superior is inexcusable in the Nigeria Police. Officers are entitled to civil liberties, but are not free to refuse postings to any part of the country, or choose which orders to obey and which to arrogantly ignore.
“To allow disobedience to lawful orders is an open invitation to anarchy, break down of law and order, which may ultimately make Nigeria ungovernable.
“We should not allow this to happen to our dear country.
“To promote or rationalise the indiscipline of one man is capable or traumatising and victimising the entire police establishment. To orchestrate and parry the insubordination of one man against constituted authority is capable of destroying the unity of the officers of the force.”
He said that while 189 police officers lost their lives in active service in 2008, 102 others sustained various degrees of work-related injuries, with some of them suffering permanent disabilities.
He wondered why these officers were not paid attention to, as they were also fathers and mothers of several Nigerians.
Ribadu’s dismissal too harsh – PSC member
ReplyDeleteBy Sebastine Ebhuomhan
Published: Tuesday, 30 Dec 2008
The dismissal of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu from the Nigeria Police Force is harsh and punitive, a member of the Police Service Commission has said.
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former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu
Dr. Otive Igbuzor of the ActionAid Nigeria, who represents the civil society organisations on the board of PSC, also disclosed that he was not part of the commission’s meeting, which recommended Ribadu‘s dismissal to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro.
Igbuzor wrote this in an essay posted on the FOI coalition‘s internet board on Monday, a copy of which was sent to our correspondent.
He further stated that had he been part of the meeting, he would have recommended a lighter punishment for Ribadu who was accused of not resuming his police duties in his demoted position after his graduation from the NIPSS.
He said, “My views on the governance of Nigeria (including this administration) are well known. I recognise that I represent civil society on the Police Service Commission and will be willing to be bound by the wishes and aspirations of civil society, but things must be done in an orderly manner and with potential for impact and change in the society.”
“On Nuhu Ribadu, I have a lot of respect for him as an efficient, hardworking and courageous officer. I think that he deserved special promotion, but not twice within a space of four months in an institution where other other hardworking officers remain in one rank for over 10 years.”
“I condemn his posting out of EFCC and the unusual focus on him by the government. But I think that it is not correct for him to refuse to resume duty after his NIPSS course.”
“I wholeheartedly support his right to go to court, but he should have assumed duty pending the determination of the case.”
Igbuzor added, “In any case, I think that dismissal is too harsh a punishment. I was not present at the meeting where the decision was taken because I had already gone on Christmas break and I was organising a programme in Delta State. I would have canvassed a more lenient punishment.”
He stated also that he had no doubt in his mind that there were some interests involved in the demotion and dismissal of Ribadu, but added that the ex-EFCC Chairman, as he had always argued, was a victim of the the system.
Okogie, Okotie fault Ridadu’s dismissal
ReplyDeleteWritten by Sam Eyoboka
Friday, 02 January 2009
CATHOLIC Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie and the erstwhile presidential candidate of Fresh Democratic Party, Rev. Chris Okotie yesterday declared that the recent dismissal of the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu left a sour taste in the mouth.
Speaking at an interactive session after the New Year Mass at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos, Okogie also distanced himself from speculations in certain quarters that the umbrella body of Christians in the country, CAN, threw its weight behind the political ambition of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying “you may be right if you say the leadership of the then CAN.”
The Cardinal said Ribadu may have stepped on toes in the process of doing his duties but it was not charitable the kind of treatment meted to him now by state authorities, saying “that is not the way to treat even your enemy.”
Stating that the nation had often shabbily treated performers Okogie said the former EFCC helmsman is just one of a number of other officials of the last administration, like the former Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who was lured from her lucrative IMF job and was doing very well when she was redeployed to the External Affairs Ministry.
He regretted that the same tradition appears to have continued in this regime as the former NAFDAC boss, Prof. Dora Akunyili has been removed with the pretext that she was being promoted for her industry only to end up in the Ministry of Information, adding “being a Catholic she will still perform but Nigerians should watch out for what happens to the anti-fake drugs agency.”
Answering questions on CAN’s purported support for Obasanjo, the cardinal said it was not true that the Christian body supported the former president even though they got money from him to complete the Ecumenical Centre that was abandoned for several years for lack of fund.
“We started the Centre long time ago but could not finish it because of funds and he gave us money to complete the place and now it is functioning but not totally completed,” he stated, adding that while he was CAN president he didn’t take money from anybody and therefore nobody could compromise his beliefs.
On the 2009 budget, Okogie said the only problem he has identified over the years is lack of proper implementation of laws, adding that budgets may appear perfect but the bane of the nation’s progress is absence of accountability on the part of officials.
On his part, Okotie assured Nigerians that there is hope even in the face of current despair. “There is hope, because I believe that this government is on is way out. I believe that the one who has continued to sustain us, and is still sustaining our democracy, is the God of all creation.
“He has loved Nigeria with a passion that cannot be demanded. No one can, not even the PDP as to what is going on within the corridors of power. To abandon the compressive truth. So I will encourage Nigerians to keep their eyes on God, to keep their eyes on their maker, because He has seen the injustices and the oppressions of the people,” he said.
Only court can reinstate Ribadu – Okiro
ReplyDeleteBy Olusola Fabiyi
Published: Saturday, 3 Jan 2009
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, has said that it is only the courts that can reinstate the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu.
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Mike Okiro
Okiro said that the outcome of the legal action instituted by Ribadu against the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police over his demotion from the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police to Deputy Commissioner of Police would determine Ribadu’s future relations with the police. Okiro, who spoke through the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, in an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, said the police would comply with the ruling of the court, if it favoured Ribadu. He said that the police, being a law-abiding institution, would not do anything to disobey lawful orders from the courts.
He said though the right to punish any erring police officer lay with the PSC, the outcome of Ribadu’s challenge of his demotion would be communicated to the police by the PSC. He said, “The Nigeria Police Force is a law-abiding institution and we are ready to comply with any court. We will not flout court orders. It is not in our character and that is what we are going to do in this matter. The power to sanction any erring police officer lies with the PSC, which also deals with promotion. So, if the court says he should come back, why not? The PSC will direct us accordingly.”
Okiro had said on Monday that Ribadu was not sacked because of the case he instituted against the PSC and the IG but for disobeying his (IG’s) lawful orders. According to him, “Disobedience of lawful orders of a superior is inexcusable in the Nigeria Police. Officers are entitled to civil liberties, but are not free to refuse postings to any part of the country, or choose which orders to obey and which to arrogantly ignore. To allow disobedience to lawful orders is an open invitation to anarchy, break down of law and order, which may ultimately make Nigeria ungovernable.”
The lawful order, according to the police, his refusal to report in Benin as a DCP in Zone 5, as directed by Okiro. Ribadu had claimed that there were plans to post him to an area where he would be killed shortly before he graduated from the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.
Minister forecloses Ribadu's recall
ReplyDeleteBars police from orderly, escort duties
From Terhemba Daka, Abuja
THOSE nursing his return should wake up from their slumber. Those who wish to see him rise to the peak of his career must give up that pipedream now. It is official. Nuhu Ribadu will never be a cop in the Nigeria Police again; the powers that be have spoken!.
Police Affairs Minister, Ibrahim Lame, disclosing the Federal Government's stance on the dismissal of the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has also ordered the immediate withdrawal of policemen attached to private individuals as orderlies and escorts.
Ribadu was recently dismissed from the Police on account of "serious misconduct and indiscipline."
Lame spoke during his first official visit to the Nigeria Police Headquarters in Abuja yesterday.
Arguing that the rationalisation of 10,000 police officers by the last administration was characterised with irregularities, the minister disclosed that the Federal Government would soon conduct a manpower audit to get rid of "bad-eggs" from the Police.
Lame said: "Let me say that Ribadus's issue borders on discipline, which is the foundation upon which the Nigeria Police stands. We cannot afford to allow anybody, no matter how highly placed that individual is, to destabilise the discipline of this place (Police Force). I want to assure you that this government takes the issue of discipline very seriously.
"The government frowns seriously at the rate at which police officers are being attached to private individuals in the society. Henceforth, this unprofessional attitude of the Police has to stop.
"It is quite disgraceful to see police officers performing demeaning jobs for their principals. This has gone a long way to debase the professional values and ethics of the Police. It also undermines discipline in the Police, as the loyalty of these officers now lie with their principals rather than the Police.
"It should be noted that only those approved by the Inspector-General of Police (IG) should be given police escorts or orderlies, while stern disciplinary measures will be taken against erring officers on such unapproved duties."
He added: "These officers and men must appreciate the fact that long stay on such duties because of the material benefits robs them of the much needed experience and professionalism required for their career advancement.
"In the light of the above, I am directing the immediate withdrawal of all police officers attached to private individuals without due authorisation. Meanwhile, the IG should look into how private security outfits could provide the security needs of such individuals. This will ultimately reduce the pressure on the Police to provide such services."
Lame claimed that police roadblocks have disappeared from the roads and urged the police no to return them to the highway.
His words: "The public has commended your efforts in ensuring that there is free flow of traffic on our highways. We must make sure that only motorised patrols and surveillance techniques are used for crime prevention and control on our highways henceforth.
"There should be no more road blocks. Rather, we should have stop-and-search operations when the need arises and these should be discontinued as soon as the objectives are met."
The minister challenged policemen to change the poor perception the public has of them.
Lame said: "Is it not an irony that you excel while on peacekeeping missions abroad but at home some Nigerians adjudge you as not too good?
"I know that you are capable of excellent performance. I believe that the Nigeria Police are a powerful force waiting to be unleashed for greater achievement, given the right empowerment."
He disclosed that the Federal Government would soon upgrade the Police Academy in Kano to a degree-awarding institution and called for the review of the duration of training recruits from the current six months to 10 months.
Lame also frowned at the rate unqualified persons were being allegedly recruited into the Police, vowing that henceforth, only qualified candidates would be engaged.
The IG, Mike Okiro, said of 353 kidnap cases witnessed in 2008, only two deaths were recorded.
He charged Lame to revive the Police Constabulary as a form of police officers resettlement scheme, so that the high number of officers being retired from the Police could be absorbed for better security in the country.
Okiro also disclosed that only two banks have heeded his directive to purchase bullet, water and fire-proof bullion vans for cash movement, saying others had devised means of moving money through contractors with the approved vans.