Malachy Uzendu
26 November 2008
Lagos — MORE trouble awaits the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Mike Okiro has queried him for improper dressing and misconduct.
Also, Ribadu has been summoned to appear before the Force Disciplinary Committee[FDC] sitting on December 4 at the Police Officers Mess Kaduna.
A police wireless message to the Assistant Inspector Generaal [AIG] in charge of Zone 5, Benin by the Force Headquarters directed the former to release Deputy Commissioner of Police [DCP] Ribadu to face the committee which will hear the pending disciplinary matters. It was dated November 24, 2008.
Ribadu was accused of dressing in plain clothes without approval by the IGP during a recent courtesy call on President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.
Daily Champion recalls that Ribadu and his colleagues in the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) course 30 had visited President Yar'Adua November 13 at the presidential villa, Abuja.
However in a query signed by the Deputy Force Secretary, Suleiman A. Abba, a Commissioner of Police, Ribadu was ordered to reply the query within 48 hours of the receipt.
Entitled "Query for Serious Misconduct," it read:
"The attention of the Inspector-General of Police has been drawn to the front page publication of Daily Trust and Thisday Newspapers of Friday 14th November, 2008, to the fact that NIPSS Course 30, 2008 participants of which you and other Senior Police and Armed Forces Officers are members, paid a courtesy visit on Mr. President at the State House, Abuja on 13th November, 2008. While your colleagues in the police and other services were in their official uniforms respectively, you appeared before Mr. President in plain clothes.
The Inspector-General of Police is piqued and highly embarrassed that without approval you ignore the ethics and rules of the force which requires you to be properly dressed in uniform on official duty and appeared before Mr. President dressed in plain clothes. Your conduct as highlighted above has not only portrayed you as indisciplined, it has portrayed the force in bad light.
Accordingly, the Inspector-General of Police directs that you be queried and you are hereby queried for the following acts of misconducts:-
- Improper Dressing: In that you appeared dressed in plain clothes instead of police uniform when you paid a courtesy visit with other course participants on Mr. President in the presidency on 13th November, 2008, contrary to rule 030301 (k) of the Public Service Rules 2006;
- Discreditable Conduct: In that by appearing in plain clothes as highlighted above, you have discredited the Nigeria Police Force and portrayed it as an indisciplined organization, contrary to rule 030403(w) of the Public Service Rules 2006;
- Conduct Prejudicial to Discipline: In that the sum total of your conduct as highlighted above is prejudicial to discipline, proper administration of the Force and unbecoming of a Senior Police Officer of your rank contrary to rule 030401 of the Public Service Rules, 2006;
- Serious Acts of Misconduct: In that your deliberate failure or neglect to be in police uniform during official working assignment is a serious act of misconduct unbecoming of a Public Officer contrary to rules 030401 and 030402(w) of the Public Service Rules 2006.
You are therefore required to explain in writing within 48hrs of the receipt of this query why disciplinary action should not be taken against you. Your explanation, if nay, should be submitted through the appropriate channel within the stipulated period or it will be assumed to mean that you have none to offer and the IGP will be at liberty to take any action he finds appropriate in the circumstance, please.
Meanwhile, one of Ribadu lawyers, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) yesterday said his client was not being detained by security agents as speculated by the media.
"I don't think he (Ribadu) is in detention presently" Mr. Oyetibo told Daily Champion on telephone last night.
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It seems to me like Mr. Yaradua's administration is lacking any wise men and women to advise him about the Latin phrase "Vox Populi, Vox Dei" and for him to do the right thing. May be there are some wise men/women in his administration but were afraid to tell the truth to their boss - perhaps their oath of secrecy include keeping their mouth shut even to their principal, the President, until its too late to redeem himself. In regards to Nigeria's most corrupt and inept, of all the federal government departments, the Nigeria Police's frivolous lawsuit against one of… [Read Full Text]