Onochie Anibeze
29 November 2008
Persecutors of former anti-graft czar, Nuhu Ribadu, may continue to be at sea on how to deal with him if they were to stick to due process and rule of law.
Already, Nigerians have continued to jab the government of President Umaru Yar'Adua over the crude manner that government agents have employed to cut the man to size for what is still unknown ,but which many conclude is for probably stepping on toes during his tenure as chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC.
Ribadu was dogged in his fight against corruption although he was rightly accused of selective prosecution of only those in the bad books of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. But those who defend him argue that he couldn't go against the directives of the President.
His reign at EFCC ended with the coming of President Yar'Adua who had reportedly pleaded with him not to take up a United Nations job on the grounds that he was needed to continue the anti-corruption war.
But shortly after that, the Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, sent Ribadu for a course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, near Jos.
Okiro defended his decision to send him on course on the ground that Ribadu needed the course to improve himself, and probably return to his position at EFCC. But the appointment of Farida Waziri as the substantive EFCC boss put paid to that and actually threw light on government's disposition towards Ribadu.
He was subsequently demoted from Assistant Inspector-General of Police to Deputy Commissioner of Police and attempts were made to withdraw him from school on the grounds that he no longer qualified to attend the course meant for Commissioners of police and above.
And last Saturday in Jos, in the presence of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and Minister of Justice Mike Andoakaa, security agents subjected him and his family to humiliating treatment when they forced him out of the graduation ceremony. Although the Presidency quickly disassociated itself from such barbarism following national outcry, his persecution has continued with the queries sent to him by Okiro.
They are asking him to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for taking the police to court over his demotion, for appearing in plain clothes at the Presidency, for failing to honour the invitation extended to him by EFCC.
Ribadu has reportedly answered the queries. A source close to him and corroborated by statements from his lawyer said his answers have turned hard nuts for the Police.
Said the source: "On why he went to court, he said that his demotion was a fundamental human right matter and contesting such a matter in court was backed by the Nigerian constitution.
On why he appeared in the Presidency in plain clothes, he said that since his demotion was already in court, it was not proper for him to appear in either the uniform of Assistant Inspector-General of Police or Deputy Commissioner of Police.
On why he failed to honour EFCC's invitation, he maintained that he did not dishonour their invitation but only asked that the date be deferred since he was preparing for his graduation at Kuru or a questionnaire sent to him on any issue for him to answer.
The Police have since posted Ribadu to Edo State and also summoned him to appear before the Police Disciplinary Committee on December 4 in Kaduna.
I strongly doubt if he will be in Kaduna," the source continued.
"This is because the letter inviting him addressed him as Deputy Commissioner of Police which he is already contesting in court. Ribadu wants to stick to Rule of Law.
The matter is already in court. It is same with the letter posting him to Edo State. It addressed him as Deputy Commissioner of Police.
So it's all legal matters now and the court will have to determine a lot for the law to lead the way and rule.
There are also talks that posting him to Edo could set him up against those he actually prosecuted for corruption during his reign.
But he would not play up any security issue as regards his safety lest he is portrayed wrongly as an officer strong and bold in office but weak in persecution.
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