Unfortunately for the government, not only are its credentials largely in doubt in the anti-corruption arena; its attitude towards Mallam Ribadu (who for many came to personify anti-corruptionism) is also viewed with suspicion. And for a government which is merely over a year into its tenure, it is a regrettable position to be in. For it conveys the notion to observers, that where its anti-corruption agenda is concerned, it is the tail that is wagging the dog, and not the other way round.

Last week’s announcement by the Police Service Commission (PSC) of its decision to reverse the promotions of 140 police officers; notable amongst whom, was Mallam Ribadu, met with a predictable outcry of outrage. An outcry which was further compounded by the accompanying belief that there is an official conspiracy against Mallam Ribadu; but remarkably, not necessarily against the other affected officers.

It is ironic, that on the one occasion when a police oversight body, acted to cleanse the police force of some of its internal irregularities; it was deemed not to have done so in good faith. Ordinarily, given the pervasive dysfunction across Nigerian government agencies, the PSC ought to have been applauded for its decisiveness in seeking to restore order in the police force. But because of the cloud of mistrust hanging over the government, the PSC finds itself caught in a vicarious web of suspicion, and its action deemed conspiratorial.  

Proving conspiracies at the best of times is a difficult thing. Since such plots are often hatched and executed in and from dark places. But what is not difficult to prove, because it is as clear as the bright light of day, is the fact that Mallam Ribadu has many enemies. Broadly speaking these enemies fall into two main categories. In the first group, are those who hate him because of his muscular performance at the EFCC. While the second category consists of those who dislike him because of his presumed ‘haughty’ personality and they also resent him because of his once favoured status and that which went with it. Those in this group are to be found in the mid to higher echelons of the police force.  

As for his enemies in the first category, there is no doubt about the fact that it is they who saw to his removal as chairman of the EFCC. They are the class of influential and corrupt political functionaries, for whom he was a constant thorn in the flesh. My guess is that once they had exacted their pound of flesh, they now ignore him, being preoccupied as they are with their favourite vocation of robbing the nation. The second group of enemies may or may not have had a hand in egging on the PSC in his demotion; and if they did not, they are no doubt pleased about the outcome. This hypothesis is based on two separate incidents involving Mallam Ribadu and the police force, during his tenure at the EFCC.  

The first incident, has to do with Mallam Ribadu’s humbling of Mr. Tafa Balogun; the former Inspector-General of Police. During his corruption trial, Mr. Balogun, presumably on Mallam Ribadu’s orders, was brought to court in handcuffs; normal treatment accorded to those facing criminal charges. But it was clear that this treatment of Mr. Balogun was frowned upon in some quarters. During the same trial, on one occasion, in a display of overzealousness on the part of some EFCC officials, Mr. Balogun was to be seen dragged along from a moving vehicle when being taking away from the court premises.

Whilst the above episodes might have made interesting theatre for many Nigerians, it left a bad taste in the mouths of some former and serving senior police officers. Many of whom, found it difficult to reconcile in their minds how it was that a relatively junior police officer could treat his former Inspector-General in such a manner.  

The second incident, relates to the period towards the end of the previous government’s tenure in office. At that time speculation was rife and rumours were circulating that Mallam Ribadu was set to replace Mr. Ehindero as Inspector-General of Police, and this on his recommendation. But this could only happen, if about two hundred senior officers were let go from the police force. As it turns out, no such appointment was made; because somehow, someone, somewhere, baulked at the idea of a mass sacrifice of officers for the sake of one officer.

Of those two hundred senior officers, a sizable number of them still remain in the police force today. And it is doubtful that any of them would have much affection or regard for Mallam Ribadu seeing how close they came to the chop. I imagine that this group of officers and those who retain residual loyalty to Mr. Tafa Balogun must have been delighted at Mallam Ribadu’s demotion. But being delighted at someone’s misfortune and being involved in a conspiracy against that person are entirely different matters.   

But conspiracies aside, was the PSC wrong to have done what it did? And were Mallam Ribadu’s rapid promotions justified? There is no doubt that the PSC acted within its proper remit for the police. And the fact that its action was undertaken without discrimination towards a whole range of officers, including a deceased officer, shows that it acted dispassionately. And rather than condemn it for its approach, we ought to commend it. 

Now with respect to Mallam Ribadu’s rapid promotions, as an avowed admirer of his, I always felt that the previous government over played its hand in the manner in which it promoted him. Its actions bore the hallmark of nepotism and cronyism, which were discriminatory towards other equally capable and high performing officers who were not in the national limelight and did not have patrons in high places. And as far as I am concerned nepotism and cronyism can be as insidious in effect as other forms of corruption in public life.     

Unfortunately for Mallam Ribadu at the time of his swift promotion to Assistant Inspector-General of Police, when questioned by the media, his attempts at justifying his elevation did not come across very well. He made reference to the fact that his peers in other professions had made greater advancements and that his elevation was no big deal. He came across as being insensitive to his peers in the police whom he had surpassed. It was ill advised, and would not have been well received by his peers in the police.

The appropriate reward for Mallam Ribadu in my view would have been no more than one or two promotions in line with that of his other high performing colleagues in the police; and possibly a national honour in recognition of his services at the EFCC. Or better still, on his secondment to the EFCC, he could have been given a temporary promotion to befit his new status, much in the manner that senior army officers are given when seconded on peacekeeping duties in conflict areas. These officers often revert to their substantive ranks at the end of their tours of duty.       

I think that Mallam Ribadu is a fine and intelligent police officer who has what it takes to rise to the top of his chosen profession in his own right and at the right time given the right opportunities.

It would be wrong for anyone to form the opinion that anyone who takes a view which may be construed as being critical of Mallam Ribadu in anyway or supportive of the PSC’s stance is somehow in favour of corruption in Nigeria . This is an erroneous position to assume; and it has no bearing on the truth. For like many others, I am wholly opposed to corruption in our national life.

I wholly support what he did at the EFCC, and like others was deeply disappointed at his removal. My admiration for him in time past has been expressed in public spaces in two fairly laudatory articles ‘Ribadu on my Mind’ and ‘Farewell Mallam Ribadu.’

But to answer the question posed by the title of this piece, I am inclined to say that his demotion was not the result of a conspiracy, but the result of the PSC’s desire to sanitise and correct anomalies, in the police, regardless of whose oxen were gored in the process. But his removal from the EFCC on the other hand was definitely the result of a conspiracy.

In any case, I hope that Mallam Ribadu remains within the police force and that he has the courage to weather this current storm. I also hope that he one day rises to the pinnacle of his chosen profession on the wings of personal merit so that he can resume his admirable battle against the many corrupt in our midst.     

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 14.08.2008 19:47

bobokite  Villager

# 2 =Robot;4295083619>...But to answer the question posed by the title of this piece, I am inclined to say that his demotion was not the result of a conspiracy, but the result of the PSC’s desire to sanitise, and correct anomalies, in the police, regardless of whose oxen was gored in the process> Thank you very much for the statement above. Posted by bobokite| 14.08.2008 20:56

Abraxas  Villager

# 3 Ribadu And All That By Comfort Obi Source: SaharaReporters.com Let me start by saying that I am, proudly, a member of the Parry Osayande-led Police Service Commission (PSC), which has suddenly been making headline news. This is good news. It means that perhaps, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), an organization hated with so much passion, but which incidentally, the passionate haters cannot do without, is finally doing something positive. But permit me to catch my breath a little. It has not been possible to do that since the sudden attention on the PSC began. My phones have rang no end. My message box is filled up. But the interesting thing: most of those getting in touch with me, especially Police Officers, just want to thank the PSC for rekindling confidence in an organization which they thought had been reduced to a man-know-man. The others, my colleagues in the media, are calling to simply do their job. They are asking questions, and confirming what they had heard or thought. Beautiful. So, why is the PSC suddenly making headline news? The reason, which I guess most of you must either have heard, or read about, is simple. The PSC exercised its constitutional right and reduced in rank, 140 police officers whose promotion was not only irregular, but also a brazen breach of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But perhaps, this laudable action may not have attracted so much attention if the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, was not among the officers demoted. The way Ribadu's known friends, admirers, associates, and those who never see good in anything unless they are in charge are reacting, you would think that Heavens have fallen. It has not. Instead, what has happened is that some people are deliberately whipping up ethnic sentiments where there should be none. They are condemning an injustice, which has just been courageously redressed. And one is left wondering and asking: What do they want? The story began on August 5 when the PSC, after a thorough investigation, which spanned weeks, and a robust discussion, which took a whole day, almost, decided to right the wrongs and put a stop to the disquiet and grumbling in the NPF by demoting the 140 officers. Here is the story, and why the PSC demoted the officers. Following the return of our dear country, Nigeria to democratic governance on May 29, 1999, Section 153(1)(m) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as elaborated by Part I of the Third Schedule provided for the establishment of a Police Service Commission (PSC) as a Federal Executive Body. The PSC was given powers to appoint persons to offices (other than to the office of the Inspector-General of Police) in the Nigeria Police Force. It was also given the powers to dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding any office in the Police, except the Inspector-General of Police. The Police Service Commission (Establishment) Act 2001 which became operational on January 14, 2001, elaborates the constitutional provisions on which the PSC's establishment is based. Section 6(1) of the Act provides that the Commission shall, among other things, be responsible for the following: <*>The appointment and promotion of persons to offices (other than the office of the Inspector-General of Police) in the Nigeria Police. <*>Dismiss and Exercise disciplinary control over persons (other than the Inspector-General of Police) in the Nigeria Police. <*>Formulate policies and guidelines for the appointment, promotion, discipline and dismissal of officers of the Nigeria Police. Based on the above, any appointment, discipline, dismissal or promotion done without passing through the PSC is null and void. That explains why when the Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, retired Kyrien Dudari, a DIG of Police, without recourse to the PSC, Okiro was asked by the PSC to recall him from retirement. He did. Dudari was reinstated, and only retired after the PSC investigated his case, gave him a fair hearing, and found him guilty as charged. The case of Ribadu and the 139 others falls in the same category. For whatever reasons, the former Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, promoted the officers without recourse to the PSC. When he did that, Ehindero knew very well that he had no right, no constitutional powers to promote them. He knew the promotions were illegal. He knew he had sowed the seeds of injustice and indiscipline in the NPF, which he led. He was the head of the NPF then, and knew the rules guiding promotions. The questions are: Why did he flout the rules? Was there no PSC in place then? Certainly there was, contrary to insinuations in the press. So, why did he not go through it? From where did he get clearance? If, in the case of Ribadu, for example, he was under pressure from the Presidency, why did he not advise the President on the rules and regulations? A policeman is meant to keep and obey the laws of the land and not to break it. The only reason why we have this mess at hand is that Ehindero brazenly broke the laws of the land. The fate, which has become the lot of the demoted officers, should be placed squarely on Ehindero's shoulders. He should be called to question. Ribadu is a fine and courageous officer. As the EFCC boss, he did a commendable job. The only areas I disagreed with him were his habit of criminalizing people on the pages of newspapers; his habit of finding people guilty without a law court saying so. Even when he had a good case, at times he destroyed them by talking too much. So, at times, he jumped the gun. But these do not becloud the fact that he led the EFCC with courage. He deserves the commendations, which many Nigerians showered on him, and continue to shower on him. Definitely, his country is proud of him. Definitely, the NPF is proud of his achievements at the EFCC. But that does not mean that an illegality should be allowed to stand because Ribadu is involved. Ribadu's unusual rapid promotion smacks of corruption – a cancerous vice that he fought with all he had at the EFCC. Enlisted into the NPF on February 1, 1986, Ribadu was promoted to the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), on February 1, 2003. By October 2005, he was promoted to the rank of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCP). On December 18, 2006, a little over one year after his promotion to DCP, he was promoted to the rank of a Commissioner of Police, CP. As if to rub it in, on April 9, 2007, barely four months after he was promoted to a CP, he was promoted to the rank of an Assistant Inspector-General of Police. The last time Ribadu's promotion passed through the PSC was when he was promoted to a DCP. The last two was what you could call "American wonder." Meanwhile, under the police, the law is that an officer must stay on a rank for a minimum of three years and have a good Annual Performance Evaluation Report, APER, before the next promotion. This other day when the PSC held interviews to promote officers from ACP to DCP, from DCP to CP, and considered the promotion of AIGs to DIGs, I was shocked to find out that some of them had stayed on a rank for eight years. And these are brilliant officers. A couple with PhDs, a few others with first Class degrees and distinctions in their Masters Degrees. Why were they not promoted to their next ranks? Did they need to have a godfather to be promoted? They had no query whatsoever in their files. No reprimand. Nothing. Among scores of others, let me cite just one example. There is one Ibrahim Abdu. On the DCP Seniority list, he is No 12. Ribadu was on the same seniority list with Abdu as No 129. Abdu was promoted to the rank of a DCP on January 22, 2002. Ribadu was promoted to a DCP, remember, on February 2, 2003. Meaning: Abdu was promoted before him. But look at this. Abdu was promoted to the rank of a CP only on June 12, 2008! When he appeared before the PSC for his promotional interview, one of us, after looking at his file asked him: What did you do wrong? He smiled helplessly, and answered: "Nothing Sir." Of course, there could be special cases. I have heard people argue that Ribadu's case was special because he did a good job. True. But with all due respect, there are a lot of Ribadus in the NPF. Problem is, they have not been given a chance. After all, we didn't know his capabilities until he was given a chance at the EFCC. We didn't know about Professor Dora Akunyili until she was given a chance at NAFDAC. And there are many Dora Akunyilis waiting to be given a chance to prove themselves. Even then, the NPF has guidelines for such special promotion. It must be based on exceptional performance such as acts of gallantry and bravery, and not just for doing one's normal job. Ribadu was courageous at the EFCC, but he was doing the normal job for which he was appointed the EFCC chairman. And he has gained from it. His profile has risen. He is now known all over the world. His C.V. has been enriched. And appreciative Nigerians have praised him to high heavens. Why shouldn't he wait for a normal promotion? It will eventually come. He may well, with level-headedness, end up one day as the IG of police. Problem is, some people have elevated Ribadu to a celebrity. Wrong. He is a security officer. Security Officers don't talk too much. They let their jobs speak for them. They don't hug the headlines. They don't talk at the drop of a hat. They are rarely seen. Not many people know their faces. While condemning the demotion of the 140 police officers, the Afenifere, in a statement added a ridiculous ethnic angle to it. They gave the impression that it is a Northern agenda, arguing that the bulk of the officers demoted are Yoruba. Good. That tells a story. So, the officers were promoted because Ehindero, a Yoruba, was the IGP? Please, note that it is Afenifere, which is accusing Ehindero of ethnic bias. Could that be why Ehindero did not promote Ibrahim Abdu, a Northerner, to a CP? Is Ribadu, the "star" of this uproar, a Yoruba? Is Parry Osayande, DIG, Rtd, and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, a Northerner? Is Okiro a Northerner? What is Afenifere talking about? The other point it raised is that Okiro ought to have been demoted too, for allegedly being a beneficiary of such a promotion. Not true. Afenifere does not know the story, nor the background of Okiro's promotion. For those who may think like them, here is the story. Yes, Okiro was promoted from CP to the rank of a DIG, but it is not the same as that of the 140 officers. The promotion of officers to the ranks of the IG and DIGs are political. From the rank of an AIG down is not. For the DIGs, every geo-political zone is entitled to one. In a zone where there is no AIG to be promoted to a DIG, the most senior officer from that zone is promoted to a DIG to represent his or her zone. Both Okiro and DIG Ogbonnaya Onovo benefited from that. And so did a few others. Okiro and Onovo, as CPs, were the most senior officers from their zones – the South south and the Southeast. That is the story. Definitely, I feel for the 140 police officers, especially Ribadu. We are all human beings. Having been wearing the rank of an AIG since April 2007, it cannot be easy to revert to the rank of a DCP. The irrepressible Gani Fawehinmi describes Ribadu's demotion as "absolutely bizarre," and a punishment for honesty. I think not. Punishment? Bizarre? My opinion: It is those who promoted him illegally that committed an "absolutely bizarre" offence. Definitely not the PSC, which is trying to remedy a rather messy situation. As for the reference to Haz Iwendi of blessed memory? He will be promoted posthumously. The investigation into the bizarre promotions had started before his death. When the findings came, it was not possible to remove his name from the pack. His entitlement will be paid to him as a full-fledged Police Commissioner. He was a good, brilliant officer. But back to Ribadu. He should not allow those who cry louder than the bereaved to push him into what he does not want to do. It will, of course, be difficult initially, but he is a courageous officer. He is brilliant. Age is on his side. He may well become the IGP one day. Who knows. *Ms. Comfort Obi, the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The Source, is a member of the Police Service Commission. Posted by Abraxas| 15.08.2008 02:40

denker  Villager

# 4 Ehindero brazenly broke the laws of the land. ..so, wat gonna happen to him for breaking the law of the land...is anybody interested to lecture us on dis...:confused1 Posted by denker| 15.08.2008 03:25

employlawone  Villager

# 5 As for the reference to Haz Iwendi of blessed memory? He will be promoted posthumously. The investigation into the bizarre promotions had started before his death. When the findings came, it was not possible to remove his name from the pack. His entitlement will be paid to him as a full-fledged Police Commissioner. He was a good, brilliant officer. This attempt to defend the way a dead man was treated defies logic, If his entitlement will be paid to him as a full-fledged Police Commissioner then what is the meaning and effect of his demotion? You bless his memory but yet desecrate him? _________________________ _________________________ A very well articulated piece. Since the saga started in August 2007, the possibility that the government must have know about the possibility of the impending demotion when he was bundled off to Kuru is very high. I am inclined to say that his demotion was not the result of a conspiracy, but the result of the PSC’s desire to sanitise and correct anomalies, in the police, regardless of whose oxen were gored in the process. But his removal from the EFCC on the other hand was definitely the result of a conspiracy. However, it would be interesting what interpretation the courts would give on the legality or otherwise of the Commission re-visiting promotions or actions that occured whilst there was a vacum before it, the Commission came into existence. Does the Commission have the power of reversal to the status quo ante? I am better able to understand a probe panel or a board of enquiry duly constituted carrying out the role of examining past promotions and then recommending a reversal. I, however, wonder if the Commission can constitute itself into a board of enquiry into the past. If it is legally empowered to then my question is answered. Posted by employlawone| 15.08.2008 04:28

Mikky jaga  Villager

# 6 With the way Ms. Comfort Obi marshalled her points here, it shows we still have right thinking Nigerians all over. The problem has always been how to get them into sensitive positions. Ribadu has been justly demoted. The question that remains is: when will he refund the overpayment of salary he received since wearing the rank of AIG illegally? I know definitely that if it was the other way rouind he would ask for his arrears when his rank is restored. As a crack anti corruption crusader he should make the refund without waiting for any prompting. That is whatTai Solarin, for example, would do. Posted by Mikky jaga| 15.08.2008 04:36

FoxCatcher  Villager

# 7 =employlawone;4295083682>This attempt to defend the way a dead man was treated defies logic, If his entitlement will be paid to him as a full-fledged Police Commissioner then what is the meaning and effect of his demotion? You bless his memory but yet desecrate him? _________________________ _________________________ A very well articulated piece. Since the saga started in August 2007, the possibility that the government must have know about the possibility of the impending demotion when he was bundled off to Kuru is very high. However, it would be interesting what interpretation the courts would give on the legality or otherwise of the Commission re-visiting promotions or actions that occured whilst there was a vacum before it, the Commission came into existence. Does the Commission have the power of reversal to the status quo ante? I am better able to understand a probe panel or a board of enquiry duly constituted carrying out the role of examining past promotions and then recommending a reversal. I, however, wonder if the Commission can constitute itself into a board of enquiry into the past. If it is legally empowered to then my question is answered. The case of Ribadu and the 139 others falls in the same category. For whatever reasons, the former Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, promoted the officers without recourse to the PSC. When he did that, Ehindero knew very well that he had no right, no constitutional powers to promote them. He knew the promotions were illegal. He knew he had sowed the seeds of injustice and indiscipline in the NPF, which he led. He was the head of the NPF then, and knew the rules guiding promotions. The questions are: Why did he flout the rules? Was there no PSC in place then? Certainly there was, contrary to insinuations in the press. So, why did he not go through it? Qua: When was the PSC constituted??? I'm not against a reversal of a ab initio wrongful act, no matter who was involved. H/e that reversal should be transparent and follow due process. What drew my ire was the reports of 'impending arrest' and 'prosecution' of NR: for what??? According to Mrs. Obi, he did the nation proud despite his several flaws and 'arrogance'. Last I heard 'arrogance' or 'big headedness' is not a crime in Nigeria. The allegations of Nwuche are just that: 'allegations'. That the FG was privy to these PSC investigations and its likely conclusion is clear. It was these that drove his removal on a dead end course. So the conspiracy theory still holds water. Even if the PSC was not directly involved, the FG and its corrupt cronies have used it as a template for furthering their vendetta against NR. If not for reports of the USA's intervention, NR would probably be in detention somewhere today. A second issue is the mob mentality several Nigerians subscribed to over the reports of NR's demotion and impending arrest and prosecution. Without any standard of civilised proof of the allegations against him several were already screaming for his head/blood. Such attitudes will definitely discourage honest and committed crusaders from doing their work wthout fear or favour. It is impossible to carry out such a crusade to everyone's satisfaction; but realising one is dealing with a crowd as fickle as Shakespeare's Roman mob in Julius Caesar could act as a major disincentive to future crusaders of ills on our national landscape. As for the issue of promotion, lets await the conclusion of Gani's suit challenging it before crystalising positions thereon. Ciao Posted by FoxCatcher| 15.08.2008 06:14

onwuzuam  JJC

# 8 The balanced report by Comfort Obi is highly illuminative and commendable. However, I can not reconcile her claim that Haz Iwendi will be promoted post humously for being a "good brilliant officer" whereas she had earlier written that the guidelines for special promotion “must be based on exceptional performance such as acts of gallantry and bravery and not just doing ones normal job” With due respects to the memory of the late Haz Iwendi,what exceptional act of gallantry and bravery has merited his consideration for a post humous promotion in comparison to Rimbadu’s( normal?) job performance?. She inadvertently acknowledged Rimbadu’s exceptional performed beyond the call of duty and surely this ought to merit him a special promotion. It would be interesting to know the contents of his Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) for the intervening periods. If there was a compelling need to review his promotions, the PSC board should have exercised some discretion in demoting him by one and not two steps to the rank of a Commissioner of Police. _________________________ _________________________ Just stumbled across the info that Ribadu was a three-time winner of the Inspector-General's Award, in 1997, 98 and 2000. Does this not attest to a recognition of his exceptional performance within the Police Force? Must his progress be stagnated to benchmark him with other laggards who are his peers? Is this the reward for his acclaimed exceptional feat as the EFCC boss? What morale is there for a young aspiring Police Officer to emulate Ribadu's sterling qualities? Posted by onwuzuam| 15.08.2008 09:44