Funso Muraina, Sufuyan Ojeifo, Juliana Taiwo in Abuja and Yemi Akinsuyi
25 November 2008
Lagos — The embattled former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has been posted to Zone 5, Benin, Edo State as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of administration.
A top police officer who confirmed Ribadu's posting to THISDAY last night said the Police High Command had dispatched the signal to him and that he is expected to resume "with immediate effect".
Ribadu is expected to see to the affairs of the administration and duties of officers and men of the zone, which comprises Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa State Police Commands.
He is also expected to be the third DCP in the Zone, where there are Deputy Commission-ers in charge of Operations and Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID).
All efforts to get Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Akpoebi Agberebi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), to react to the development last night was unsuccessful as he did not pick several calls put to his phone.
Ribadu is the first DCP to have undergone a Senior Officers Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.
The new signal to report at Benin is the latest in the Ribadu saga that is daily spewing new twists and turns.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) had in September this year demoted the former EFCC boss to the rank of DCP from the Assistant Inspector-General of Police with which he had enlisted at NIPSS.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has asked the authorities of NIPSS to immediately issue certificate to Ribadu who has just completed the Senior Executive Course 30 at the institute.
Ribadu was last Saturday prevented from graduating along with his colleagues, as he and his family members were whisked out of the graduation ceremony.
The action has already drawn the ire of many Nigerians and professional bodies among them the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), which described it as barbaric.
But yesterday, the government directed NIPSS to issue the former EFCC boss his certificate.
Government also asked the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ribadu's forceful removal from the graduation ground and the report sent to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan who oversees the institute.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, said the Federal Government also directed that Mr. Allen Briggs who was embroiled in camera theft in China while on study tour be awarded his certificate as well.
Briggs was also denied the opportunity of graduating along with his colleagues last Saturday.
Niboro said: "The Federal Government is concerned about reports that it was involved in the decision to prevent Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the former Chairman of the EFCC, and Mr. Allen Briggs from participating in the graduation ceremony of NIPSS after successfully completing the Senior Executive Course.
"For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, the Federal Government wishes to affirm that it gave no such directive that Mallam Ribadu or any other person be barred from the NIPSS graduation.
"Consequently, the Presidency has ordered the Institute to immediately award the certificate of participation in Senior Executive Course 30 to him and the other participant who was said to have been absent at the graduation ceremony.
"The Secretary to the Government of the Federation has also been mandated to investigate the circumstances of Mallam Ribadu's removal from the graduation venue and report sent to the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who oversees the Institute and was at the ceremony," he said.
In a related development, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Michael Aondoakaa, who was fingered in the removal of Ribadu from the graduation ground, has alleged that the ex-EFCC boss was trying to live above the system in which he operated.
Speaking with THISDAY yesterday in Abuja, Aondoakaa said Ribadu was entitled to his certificate bearing the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to which he had been demoted.
He, however, denied that he played any role in the Ribadu saga at the NIPSS graduation, pointing out that the report which linked him with the development was "blatantly incorrect."
According to him, "I did not play any role at all in the Ribadu saga at NIPSS graduation. I think the press seems to love me; they just take my name into something In fact, when I saw the blatantly incorrect statement made by them, because I know you also have a way of cross checking and the security agencies were there; they said immediately after the former President of Uganda, I arrived. It is false."
He said further, "I arrived at the venue about 9.30; then I was taken to a place and I sat there. When they later informed us that the Vice-President was approaching, we came out. That was all. But the next thing I heard was that I was the one who did it.
"I saw the programme and, of course, I saw Nuhu Ribadu's name there as Deputy Commissioner of Police, but I saw that there was an alteration; maybe something was put there before putting in DCP. But as a law officer, if you ask me, I know he is Deputy Commissioner of Police.
"I also know that he knows that he is Deputy Commissioner of Police. He cannot go and challenge an action in court that he has been demoted without knowing what he is.
"Also, what I observed there was that I saw all the military and paramilitary personnel in uniform. He was not. What I tried to inquire was that whether they used dress code. They said it was prohibitive for military officers to come to the venue without being properly dressed and from the papers, I read that one senior officer, the previous day, asked him to dress properly; and, of course, he still did not dress properly.
"I saw from the newspapers that he took a picture and one of the officers there was in uniform and he (Ribadu) was not. I think we should try not to make an individual to be above the whole system. NIPSS has been there."
Aondoakaa said it had not been recorded in the history of NIPSS that military and paramilitary personnel attended the graduation ceremony in "flowing agbada."
He continued: "One person should not be allowed to change a system that has become a history. Can the lawyer go to court without wig? So, if Nuhu comes to Supreme Court now, because he is Nuhu, he will be allowed to wear agbada and the Supreme Court will not send him out? Or can he go on police parade without wearing uniform? That is what the press is trying to say. That is a paradox."
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2008 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
I think Mallam Nuhu Ribadu should resign from Nigerian police. I believe, he could get a job in another country. Or he could form his own security business, helping foreign diplomat and businesses navigate the corrupt Nigerian system. All that are involved in this stupidity should be ashamed of themselves.
Nigerian crimes had won the corruption war.
The Nigeria AG, Mr. Aondoakaa, is determined to frustrate Nuhu Rabadu to quit the police force. Nuhu's crime is just because he chose to be a good cop, and followed the law to the teeth regardless of political affiliation of the accused when he was the EFCC boss.
The truth hurt, and the A.G. cant take it because some of his friends were caught in Nuhu's net. Africa need brave honest people like Nuhu, and not corrupt ones like the Nigeria A.G. who will move mountains to cover up for his corrupt criminal friends.
Nuhu has shown that he's very durable and brave. Please, don't let anybody break your stride because the masses are with you. We hope some day, we live to see you as the president of Nigeria on an independent ticket. All the political parties are corrupt beyond redemption. The A.G. will fail in his bid to pull you down because good will always trumph over evil. History is always right.
We wish Nuhu well, and edge him to be strong even when he's being harrass by the A.G. and others who want revenge for their criminal partners. Nigeria needs people like him. You're a true African hero. God bless you.
Much of the blame should go to President Yardua for allowing this harrassment to continue. We're wondering if the A.G has his approval. He could veto all the moves by the A.G. and allowed the brave Nuhu to continue the good work he was doing.
WHO IS THE A.G WORKING FOR? Obviously, not the people of Ngeria. The enquiring minds want to know.
No worry Mr. AG, wetin happen for rat house go soon happen for rabbit own. No position is permanent oooohh!