Daily Independent (Lagos)
Maxwell Oditta
2 December 2008
Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, is fast becoming the butt of common jokes, especially in his homestead. But there are people who feel strongly about the events and incidents around the man who had won for himself the acclaim - especially in the media circles - of the 'anti-corruption czar.'
Among social commentators of all shades, the talk is centred on issues woven around perceived persecution of Ribadu. There are those sympathetic with his travails, and those who believe he should partake of the pie he served others.
His unceremonious removal from the EFCC, sponsorship to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, for a one-year course, his double demotion from the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), the ignominy with which security agents reportedly buffeted him and his family members during the NIPSS graduation ceremony, and the recent invitation extended to him by the Nigeria Police to face a disciplinary panel, including feelers of his investigation by his successor, Farida Waziri, present a dramatic denouement to the favours previously enjoyed by Ribadu in high places.
The posers raised by those who have taken a keen interest in the plight of Ribadu is whether by acts of deliberate defiance against the rule of law, Ribadu had stirred the hornet's nest and is currently reaping the whirlwind of his own abhorrence of court injunctions. There are those who would not feign surprise that Ribadu seeks legal remedy in his rather controversial demotion by the Parry Osayande-led Police Service Commission (PSC), expressing wonder if, all along, he had ulterior regard for the same laws he flouted in his EFCC days. There are still many more people who are persuaded that he has not overcome his defiance culture evident in his appearing at the NIPSS graduation ceremony in mufti.
Some other persons were however, of the view that the establishment has come down too hard on the former EFCC boss after using him for their own designs, especially in the events leading to the exclusion of some candidates of the opposition parties ahead of the 2007 general election.
Ribadu In The Windmill
Among those who spoke with Daily Independent in terms sympathetic with the plight of Ribadu in this post-Obasanjo era is a chieftain of the Action Congress (AC) in Lagos, Mallam Jaji. The AC chieftain expressed the belief that Ribadu is at liberty to seek recourse to the law court as an aggrieved person.
"Yes, he was at liberty to appear in mufti since he had gone to court to contest his demotion to Deputy Commissioner of Police and the court had then not made a pronouncement on his real status," Jaji said.
Nnimmo Bassey of Environmental Rights Agency/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) admitted that Ribadu's stewardship at the EFCC left much to be desired. There is, nonetheless, something fishy about his recent treatment, he pointed out. Bassey described Ribadu's travails as messy and capable of painting the country in bad light.
"I believe the entire issues around him clearly show that there is something fishy going on," said Bassey.
"It is true that under him the EFCC was clearly high-handed in some situations. But what is going on does not do the government any justice at all, because every citizen of Nigeria is subject to investigation and prosecution, if they do anything wrong. Ribadu is no exception," said Bassey, a former national secretary of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).
National Secretary of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Osita Okechukwu expands the scope of Ribadu's travails to reflect the stakes of the common man in a regime of doubtful compliance with the rule of law. He portrays Ribadu as an archetype of a Nigerian stranded within the borders of a country under siege. Nigeria is under siege by a local despot, he alleged.
"Ribadu is a minor casualty, whereas Nigerians are the major casualty of an inept, undemocratic and corrupt regime. Nigerians must stand up and resist despotism," Okechukwu said.
For the National Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Okey Nwosu, Ribadu's demotion from AIG to DC is not tenable.
"I have not heard of anywhere in Nigeria where a new regime comes and says you have been demoted. Who did the promotion? The President? What have they done to the President and the people who did the promotion? Who should suffer it? Is it Nuhu Ribadu? Ribadu's demotion is rascally," opined Nwosu.
In one instance, a Ribadu admirer takes his sympathy for the man and what he stands for, when he said: "History will be on his side." To the National Publicity Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Rafiu Salawu, Ribadu is sacrificial lamb of the war against corruption in Nigeria.
"Though he is still in the service, he is a public figure. So, people will show concern about what happens to him. It is the responsibility of the government to tell the people where he has gone wrong. The on-going humiliation sends a wrong signal to the people.
"A public figure is not above the law but the people must be informed of his or her offence. Is it a crime to fight against corruption? This is the question in the minds of the people," said the AD spokesman.
Hoisted In His Own Petard
It is not only opposition politicians that have expressed sentiments in favour of the out-of-favour 'crime fighter.' A chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Cliff Ogbede, is positive that the treatment being meted out to Ribadu "is not fair." He responded, however, to the didactic aspect of Salawu's poser whether it is a crime to fight corruption, saying that the treatment has one didactic aspect - power is transient.
"The treatment on Nuhu Ribadu is not fair, but still, it is a lesson to those in authority, which states that the only constant thing in life is change. I don't know the sins Nuhu Ribadu committed while in office, but Nigeria should learn how to encourage law enforcement.
"The fight against corruption in Nigeria is undoubtedly a hard one. As such, 10 Ribadus may find it very difficulty to win the war. However, mistakes abound in such circumstance, but we should respect and uphold the ideals of the rule of law for us to succeed as a nation," Ogbede said.
There are still more lessons on the transient nature of power from Chief Umeh Kalu, a Special Assistant on Legal Matters to Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State. Ribadu's present ordeal is a great lesson for those who presently find themselves in positions where they superintend over the affairs of others, Kalu noted.
"Office holders should remain at all times accountable to the people at whose instance they hold power and work with their conscience, being conscious at all times, that there is no permanency in situations. Unfortunately for Nuhu, by the natural course of human affairs, both himself and the only man to whom he regrettably chose to serve, Obasanjo, rather than the nation, has left office, leaving him to bear alone the consequences of his actions whilst in office.
"Nuhu's attempt at appearing in mufti was as a result of his suit challenging his demotion, wearing the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police will undermine his suit while wearing AIG rank will pitch him further against the Police for insubordination and related offences.
"It is, indeed, an irony that Nuhu who disregarded court orders whilst in office should be seeking courts' protection. However, the courts are there for all citizens including Nuhu, and he should be availed redress and remedies, according to the laws of our land and justice," Kalu said.
From the foregoing, one thing seems certain - Ribadu did not make the best of his EFCC chairmanship. Even many of his sympathisers have not denied that.
A journalist and lawyer, Chris Akiri, who was former AD senatorial candidate in Delta Central and was part of the Delta State think-tank at the 2005 National Political Reforms Conference, chronicled what he considered Ribadu's indiscreet actions concisely in the following words: "After 'happening' him to finish the programme satisfactorily, it was improper to deny him the certificate thereof. NIPSS was stopped from doing so. I must add, however, that although the government is going about the Ribadu matter in awkward manner, I strongly believe that Ribadu is being hoisted in his own petard.
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