Nuhu Ribadu
The pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu yesterday disclosed that the decision by the Police Service Commission (PSC) to demote, and later dismiss him from the Police was nullified by a court, causing the reversal of the action taken by the government.
Ribadu was demoted from Assistant Inspector-General AIG of Police, to a Deputy Commissioner of Police, and subsequently dismissed from the force for alleged gross insubordination. He challenged his demotion at the Federal High Court in Abuja, but fled the country after two failed assassination attempts on him.
The PSC reinstated him in May 2010 as an AIG, with effect from 22 December, 2008, and converted his dismissal to retirement.
Mr. Ribadu referred to the court case during his remarks on Wednesday at a public lecture to mark the official opening of the new law office of a renowned Lagos lawyer, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), stating that it was Mr. Oyitebo who handled the case on his behalf.
Against the backdrop of some insinuations that he got back his rank of AIG out of the magnanimity of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, the former EFCC boss described as one of Oyitebo's "many historic victories" having "the decision reversed and my ranks restored".
He said the action of Oyitebo was "a huge favour which I may never be able to repay, except with these tokens of gratitude.
"I'm here today not just to honour my brother Barrister Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), but to sincerely express a depth of gratitude for his selfless contributions to my personal and public service career. My relationship with this remarkable lawyer is one for which I must forever remain grateful. He has stood with me, believed in my causes while I was at EFCC and dedicated his time and resources to representing us pro bono."
Ribadu also recalled the contributions of several other legal practitioners who supported his tenure at the EFCC and beyond as well as some operatives of the commission who paid the supreme price in the line of duty.
He said, without the sacrifices and support of those individuals, the commission, then under his leadership, may not have recorded as much success as it did within the six years of his stewardship at the EFCC.
"I want to seize this opportunity to thank the brilliant lawyers and brothers who stood for us and provided us with their free legal service at the EFCC, especially at the time we were under tremendous pressures in our struggles to carry out assignments considered impossible by detractors. These are distinguished lawyers and models for the practising and aspiring lawyers.
"I will forever remain indebted to the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, his Chamber and family, for standing with us, and representing us in courts without asking for a kobo. Chief Gani was swift in challenging the decision to have me vacating office for a course at Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Study (NIPSS).”
He also described as “favours no man can ever repay” the sacrifices of Barrister Femi Falana (SAN) and his chamber, including his successful defence of the case filed against him by then Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over a false claim of failure to fill out the assets declaration form as a public servant. “This was among the many cases Mr Falana successfully handled for me and the EFCC at no cost of ours while I was in charge,” he said.
"I must also thank my friend and classmate, Barrister Charles Musa and Chamber and my younger brother Barrister Ahmed Uwais and Chamber, who participated in these historic struggles of my career, and invested their time and resources for my sake, and the sake of the nation. I must also commend the Nigerian judiciary for being the shed inside which our hope was restored. We don't come across kind-hearted people like them everyday.”
Mr. Ribadu did not forget some of the officers at the EFCC, some of whom paid the highest price, calling them “hardworking colleagues and brothers lost in this struggle for the redemption of our beloved nation.”
Among them, he recalled “Muazu, our forensic expert, who was killed in front of his family; Danjuma Mohammed, also lost in similar inhuman state, in his residence at Apo, Abuja; M. Abba, who was burnt alive in Abuja inside his car.”
It can't be worse than that,” the former policeman said. “sThese were evil ploys carried out by enemies of the nation to have us cowered!"
It remains unclear why the determination of Mr. Ribadu’s case against the government has not been mentioned before now, including by Ribadu himself, but that may be partly due to the contradictions in the mainstream Nigerian media, which follows the path of power and wealth, and is known for its reluctance to follow-up stories.
It would be recalled that in 2010, Ribadu’s reinstatement to the police force was widely-perceived to be owed to Mr. Jonathan’s intervention. It was not denied by anyone, becoming a public relations bonus for the new president.
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