EFCC’s Ribadu: I had my reservations 
Chidi Anyaeche

By EFCC’s Ribadu, I am referring to Nuhu Ribadu, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) helmsman. The EFCC is the anti-graft body set up by erstwhile Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo to tackle graft but it ended up as his toy, tackling his enemies – imaginary and otherwise and championing his third term agenda by remote. For anything that has to do with President Obasanjo always had a sinister agenda. The rest as they say is history. 

Corruption in Nigeria has reached a crescendo, has reached a point of no return. Everything in Nigeria is corrupt, drinking water is corrupt, the air is corrupted, and even foetuses are corrupt. President Olusegun Obasanjo in an attempt to tackle this corruption set up the EFCC but this process as can now be seen was corrupt. Not all Nigerians are corrupt, there are but decent Nigerians in all endeavours of life, there are Nigerians that have and will sacrifice their lives for the betterment of the country. These decent Nigerians lauded the establishment of EFCC; this lauding I had always believed was a bit premature, for EFCC was yet to prove its mettle. But in the euphoria of fighting corruption, tackling the beast heads on for once, these decent Nigerians dropped their guard. How can anything good come from President Olusegun Obasanjo? A seventy something year old election rigger. 

Since nothing good can come from President Obasanjo, I had my reservations about EFCC as headed by Nuhu Ribadu. Ribadu started by making noises here and there, started by making some high profile arrests, which at the end of the day amounted to nothing but a slap on the wrist like the conviction of Tafa Balogun, the former Inspector General of Police. Ribadu at a time blamed the law courts for frustrating his efforts in sanitising the country. Again, the rest as they say is history. 

A couple of cases deepened this reservation I had about Ribadu, such cases include but not limited to: - 

• The disappearance into thing air of Obasanjo’s golden boy, former Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state after impeachment till date. EFCC with all the security paraphernalia at its disposal kept mute.
• The disappearance of former Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau state in Nigeria after his first impeachment. EFCC kept mute.
• The indictment of Obasanjo’s right hand man, Commodore Bode George for his nefarious activities at Nigerian Ports Authority. EFCC kept mute.
• Andy Uba’s money laundering case with the US authorities. EFCC kept mute
• Indictment of Obasanjo’s cousin, Dr Julius Makanjuola for his criminal acts at the Federal Ministry of Defence. EFCC kept mute.
• The removal of Obasanjo’s acolytes from the names of EFCC indicted politicians. Ribadu kept mute
• Ribadu’s naïve attempt at supporting Paul Wolfowitz, former President of the World Bank.

The list goes on and on. But one case in particular, where Nuhu Ribadu and hence EFCC kept mute that greatly deepened my reservation as to his sincerity of purpose, his devotion to duty, his allegiance to Nigeria or to Obasanjo was the electoral case between Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Ugochukwu Uba. Ugochukwu Uba is the elder brother to Andy Uba, Obasanjo’s man-Friday. 

Chukwudi Nwokoye writing in Nigeriaworld.com on Saturday June 02, 2007 graphically presented the case as below: - 

“We have also not forgotten that in 2003, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu contested and won the Anambra South Senatorial Election as he was on the ballot as the candidate of PDP. However, when the result was released by INEC, his name got replaced by Dr. Ugochukwu Uba. Same fate was suffered by Chief (Mrs) Joy Emordi (Anambra North) and Chief Ben Obi (Anambra Central).  

All three of them proceeded to the Election Tribunal and won after a very rigorous challenge. When their cases went to the Court of Appeal, both Chief Joy Emordi and Chief Ben Obi won their cases. However, Dr. Ugochukwu Uba appealed to the Court of Appeal against the judgment obtained by Ukachukwu. Meanwhile, Dr. Ugochukwu Uba had been sworn in as a Senator. The matter came before the Court of Appeal of three Justices: Hon. Justice Okwuchukwu Opene, Hon. Justice David Adedoyin Adeniji and Hon. Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs who disagreed among themselves. Two of the Justices Hon. Justice Okwuchukwu Opene and Hon. Justice David Adedoyin Adeniji gave judgment to Dr. Ugochukwu Uba and the third Justice, Hon. Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs, the youngest of them disagreed and dissented and gave judgment to Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu. After the appeal, the National Judicial Council (NJC) received petitions that two of the three Justices took bribe. The National Judicial Council established under Section 153 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 set up a committee headed by late Justice Kolawole a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal. After a thorough investigation by the Committee it was found that Justice Okwuchukwu Opene who presided at the Court of Appeal took a bribe of N15,000,000.00 (Fifteen million Naira) and Justice David Adedoyin Adeniji took a bribe of N12,000,000.00 (Twelve million Naira) and three unascertained Ghana-must-Go bags. To this date, it was only the takers of the bribe that suffered consequences as they had their careers as justices ruined and their good names ruined. The givers of the bribe still walk free. Even the beneficiary of the judgment, Dr. Ugochukwu Uba, is still serving as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and still has until 3rd June to complete a mandate stolen from Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu.” 

That two Appeal Court Judges were sanctioned and retired by the National Judicial Council for receiving bribe whereas EFCC did nothing to the giver of the bribe till date showed that Ribadu is a compromised umpire. The man Ribadu is a Nigerian after all, Obasanjo’s hatchet man and nothing else. Hence my deep reservation about him. 
 

To further strengthen my reserved views on Ribadu, the man who was threatening hellfire to governors (once they loose their immunity) like a medieval theologian of the fire and brimstone variety to now being having negotiated settlements with them says it all. I do not know any where in the world where criminals are offered negotiated settlements except in Ribadu’s Nigeria. 

Nuhu Ribadu, Odenigbo’s reservation all this time about you and your intentions have been proved right, please go like your master, Obasanjo. Nigeria deserves better if that war against corruption must be won. Otherwise, it is business as usual. 
 

Robot  # 1 | 14.06.2007 23:45

Since nothing good can come from President Obasanjo, I had my reservations about EFCC as headed b...Read the full article.

pappilo  # 2 | 15.06.2007 03:27

EFCC is rubbish! The officers make up fraud cases and go around extorting money from directors of companies in Lagos. I have first hand exerience of this. EFCC chose not to investigate 'Dr' Andy Uba ($170,000) EFCC chose not to investigate Obasanjo (Transcorp shares & $170,000) EFCC is looking at David Mark ($6 million) ...... The list continues....

nigeria we hail thee!  # 3 | 15.06.2007 05:20

Now we hear that 'Dr' Andy Uba declared an asset of 1.6 TRILLION naira!!! The last time i checked, 'Dr' Andy was just struggling to survive while he was in America. By been a 'domestic assistant' aka errand boy to OJB, the guy has joined the league of TRILLIONAIRES! His gubernatorial campaign was the most extravagant in the history of Nigeria. May be dem wan make i give dem evidence before dem go probe 'Dr' Andy. na waaa o o o o! God bless Nigeria.

Mikky jaga  # 4 | 15.06.2007 12:40

The day I lost faith in this Ribadu was the day I learnt he was a Nigerian Police Officer. Later events have proved me right. If I say I hate the sight of Nigerian Policemen, it will be an understatement. It appears that a compulsory course they must pass in the Police College before they are given their drab Black uniform is extortion. Ribadu cannot be expected to be different from his colleagues in Black. If he dares my contention, let him declare what he was worth before becoming EFCC Chairman and what he is worth now. It will be plain that Nigeria is just chasing shadows as far as anti corruption is concerned. Can Okiro be different? I say Not on your life. He will make some initial gra gra and then it will be business as usual.

mulan  # 5 | 15.06.2007 16:13

=Mikky jaga;183978>The day I lost faith in this Ribadu was the day I learnt he was a Nigerian Police Officer. Later events have proved me right. If I say I hate the sight of Nigerian Policemen, it will be an understatement. It appears that a compulsory course they must pass in the Police College before they are given their drab Black uniform is extortion. Ribadu cannot be expected to be different from his colleagues in Black. If he dares my contention, let him declare what he was worth before becoming EFCC Chairman and what he is worth now. It will be plain that Nigeria is just chasing shadows as far as anti corruption is concerned. Can Okiro be different? I say Not on your life. He will make some initial gra gra and then it will be business as usual.QUOTE> Let us hope not my brother Though it is true that Ehindero did the same when he came in But maybe Yar'Adua being at the helm may bring a different scenario But to be frank, EFCC is becoming a disappointment For crying out loud why do they want to do a deal with the ex-governors?

igwe  # 6 | 15.06.2007 17:19

You cannot fight corruption when you're neck deep in corruption. Ribadu is such a huge joke. I had nightmares when I learnt he was being considered for IG. No wonder he fought so hard fo OBJ to get a third term, he knew he'd be very handsomely rewarded. Consider this joke: EFCC "probed" OBJ in les than two weeks and came back with a clean bill of health. But everybody, starting with Atiku, who showed any sign of opposing the life presidency ambition of OBJ was viciously fought by the EFCC. HOPEFULLY, ONE DAY, WE WILL KNOW HOW MUCH OBASANJO STOLE FROM NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS.

Enforcer  # 7 | 15.06.2007 17:44

=igwe;184063>You cannot fight corruption when you're neck deep in corruption. Ribadu is such a huge joke. I had nightmares when I learnt he was being considered for IG. No wonder he fought so hard fo OBJ to get a third term, he knew he'd be very handsomely rewarded. Consider this joke: EFCC "probed" OBJ in les than two weeks and came back with a clean bill of health. But everybody, starting with Atiku, who showed any sign of opposing the life presidency ambition of OBJ was viciously fought by the EFCC. HOPEFULLY, ONE DAY, WE WILL KNOW HOW MUCH OBASANJO STOLE FROM NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS. If EFCC is to fully achieve its objectives it should be part of a comprehensive strategy to cleanse Nigeria of corruption, as I explained in my recent article on the subject: A National Anti-Fraud And .... I do not doubt that EFCC may have actually helped in reducing the incidence of corruption more than most people would credit it for.

IgoTalk  # 8 | 15.06.2007 20:01

We forget one more instance in which Nuhu Ribadu's EFCC turned another way when faced with serious allegations of corruption. I refer to the botched Third Term Project...till today....Nuhu is still shouting, "Show me proof"..when everybody knows 50million naira did the job for David Mark and his cronies. My opinion anyway is that though EFCC and Nuhu are not perfect...half a loaf as they say is better than none. It remains to see how EFCC operates under Yaradua.

peterclaver2006  # 9 | 16.06.2007 06:51

I wonder what we expect from a fellow who was given a whiff of freedom by the senate to be independent of the control of the president but who shocked all of us by saying there is no way he can be free from the president. Ribadu is a detesting impostor who is masking his obvious shortcomings with generous appeal to self praise and noise making. I have my reservations long ago with a self-glorified anti-crime fighter who loves the news media than the courts, reason why he cannot prosecute a single case against the politicians. The other day, he was justifying the criminal sale of the nation’s refineries just because it serves right the interests of the god he serves. Why has he not launched into the multi-billion bazaar that happened in INEC with Iwu and his band of rouges? Because it worked to the interests of the cabal he serves? Truth is that Obasanjo is using Ribadu to distort our perception of corruption and that is why corruption has not been so brazen as it is in the last eight years. They are just fooling Nigerians and perpetrating the worst forms of corruption known in human history. All the masters Riabdu serves are now trillionaires, including the house boy of Aso Rock who was given the Anambra governorship for pounding yams for Nebucahdnezar and arranging prostitutes for him and there is nothing wrong with this so long as they are on deadly oath to the capon of corruption in Otta. Ribadu should go to hell. He fools no one, least of all me.

THE VOICE  # 10 | 16.06.2007 07:22

The point is, for good or for bad Ribadu has shown that corruption can be fought head-long if the Will is there. The question for all of us now is who gives or better still where is the Will to fight corruption? Let us do a soul - searching and see how this fight can be fought convincingly, at least Ribadu has started something, nothing is totally good or bad there is always room for improvements.

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