Friday Olokor
30 October 2008
Lagos — Former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu yesterday said he was no longer safe.
He also challenged his demotion from the rank of an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) to a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) by the Police Service Commission (PSC).
In a motion exparte filed before Justice Mustapha Abdullahi of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, Ribadu, a course participant at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru near Jos, said: "I fear for my safety and consequently seek the protection of the court as a matter, of utmost urgency."
He said contrary to the August 5, 2008 letter from the PSC demoting him on the excuse that he was promoted to the rank of AIG by former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Sunday Ehindero, he was promoted by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on the recommendation of the IGP.
Ribadu sought for an order of the court granting him leave to issue originating summons and to serve same outside Lagos and Abuja.
Joined as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendant in the matter are the (PSC, Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN).
In the 55 paragraph affidavit in support of the motion exparte, Ribadu punctured the reason advanced for his demotion insisting that all the police officers who were promoted in Nigeria between December 31, 1983 and January 4, 2001 and between December 2006 and 2008 were not promoted by the PSC.
Some of the persons whose promotions in the police were, like his, not done by the PSC include Mr. Parry Osanyande, current chairman of the commission and Alhaji Habu Daura, member of the commission.
"Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, current Inspector-General of Police was not promoted by the Police Service Commission (PSC) but on March 14, 2002, the President promoted him from the rank of Commissioner of Police to Deputy Inspector-General of Police. He skipped the rank of Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police.
Furthermore, Sir Okiro was promoted by the President from Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) over and above his Senior, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo, currently a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG)", he stated.
Ribadu further advanced that throughout the process of his purported demotion, he was not given any opportunity to be represented and heard either verbally or in writing or through his solicitor by the PSC.
He also criticized the composition of the PSC saying among the persons constituting it, DCP Alhaji Habu Daura (retd) is the most unqualified and unsuitable person working as a full time permanent executive member because while still a legal officer at the legal/prosecution department of the Nigeria Police, Alagbon, he recommended the prosecution of Daura for his several acts of criminality such as involvement in armed robbery case.
According to Ribadu, the defendants have threatened to remove him from the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos because of his said demotion but for public outcry but is however scared that they may still carry out the threat..
"I am scheduled to graduate from NIPSS in November 2008 and unless the motion exparte is heard urgently by this Honorable Court, the defendants may remove me from NIPSS or ensure that I do not graduate as planned. Unless the motion exparte is heard urgently, irreparable damage would be done to my person and this suit would be rendered nugatory. I fear for my safety and consequently seek the protection of the Honourable Court as a matter of utmost urgency," he noted.
Ribadu's Counsel, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) in moving the exparte motion filed by Mr. Charles Musa dated October 27, 2008 said the main reason for the action is to seek judicial protection for the safety of his client.
He referred to the first order being sought to grant the plaintiff leave to issue originating summons on the defendants outside Lagos and Abuja and the order for an interim injunction restraining the IGP and others from demoting him and recalling him from NIPSS.
"Before now, Ribadu was occupying the post of AIG of Police. The 2nd defendant took the view that the plaintiff did not attend the course at NIPSS before being promoted as AIG. He was asked to proceed on course. While performing that duty, he received a letter dated August 5, 2008 informing him that he was to revert to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) from AIG. Meanwhile, he continued to attend the course at NIPSS until Friday, October 24, 2008 when he became aware that he was to be deployed to a location where his life is to be in danger," Oyetibo stated.
He further argued that it is the duty of the court to serve the respondents the motion exparte at this stage adding that for today, Ribadu has not been deployed as DCP because he is still in NIPSS and would not be deployed pending when the court will determine the motion on notice.
Said Oyetibo: "We are drawing a distinction between an act and the consequences of that. We are praying the court to stop the consequences of Ribadu's demotion as DCP until the legality of his demotion is decided."
In his response to Oyetibo's argument, Justice Abdullahi said "I want to hear the oringinating summons. I want to finish the case within a month. There is no need for piling up of cases with the present system in the court process. This motion exparte succeeds in part and leave is hereby granted to the plaintiff to serve the defendants originating summons outside Lagos and Abuja."
He however refused to grant the order of interim injunction until he hears from the defendants and adjourned the matter to November 3 for further hearing.
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For doing his job given to him by the govt and subsequently taken from him and now threatened to be kicked out of the force,like the earlier commentator said if, God forbid, anything bad happens to this guy, Nigerians should hold Yar Adua responsible.This is still a crazy country and will remain so in the forseable future, but Nigerians must be ready to demand an eye for an eye, then they, (polit-criminals) will know that there is no more time to lose.We should send them trouble wherever they may be hiding,home or abroad.
It would be a tragedy of national proportion if anything untowards happens to Mr. Nuhu Ribadu. If, the gods forbid, Ribadu is harmed in any way, we know who are responsible and we've put you on notice, thusly:
1) The President of Nigeria, Malam Tarry-A-Doer, or whatever your name is. 2) The Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Andoaakaa, and 3) The Inspector General of Nigeria's Police, Mr. Okiro (or whoever the guy is).
This is no longer business as usual - there will be repercursions this time around.