Ribadu: the premise must support this persecution theory conclusion.

By Ilobi Austin

This certainly must be the most troubling of times for the former EFCC boss, Mallam Ribadu. After what seemed like a run away success in his policing career under the Obasanjo regime, he must by now, be wondering how and when he got on the wrong side of the President Yaradua led government; a government he played a very significant role in bringing about through his mass indictment of the governors of that era of corruption.

First, he was removed as the head of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission and sent off to the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies( NIPSS), which for other officers, would have elicited a thanks giving service but in his case, brought controversy and talks about his been persecuted. In a somewhat, “we are not through with you yet” manner, his promotion by the Obasanjo regime in it dying days, received some heavy debiting by the Police Service Commission and finally, at the graduation ceremony of the institute, he, together with his family and friends, was whisked out of the hall by security operatives for hazy reasons.

And for these actions of the government, those sympathetic to him has gone to town with the story of his been persecuted by those who were at the receiving ends of his activities at EFCC as if, apart from the EFCC job, he has never done any other job as a police officer that might make some persons, who have come of age now, to want his head-remember, the young they say, shall grow. But let me just focus on the current premise so far adduced for his “persecution” before moving on.

Yes. Ribadu as the chief enforcer of the last regimes whims and caprices, told the world that a little over thirty governors who collectively, would form the most influential grouping in the country were under investigation but of this lot, only a few according to the EFCC, has a case file and are currently, in court. And of the few whose case are already in court, only the former governors of Delta and Abia state can be held to have a modicum of influence in this government and this certainly, does not extend to influencing it into fighting their private wars for them besides, neither Ibori nor Kalu or Yaradua comes across as people with such petty mindedness. The rest of the former governors in court have all lost control of their state sadly, a necessary addition for influence peddling in Nigeria.

Now, for moving on, when he was demoted, the Police Service Commission gave academic inadequacy and non compliance with the procedures, as the reasons. The law or the police rule recognizes the acquisition of certain paper qualification as a criterion for promotion to the position he was catapulted to. This, at the time of his promotion, he did not possess and for this, the government graciously sent him off to NIPSS and for the non compliance issue, it can be averred that his promotion done in error, was more of a compensation for a job partially done and it was up to his asking price, he refuse to exhibit the moral strength of character expected of the lord of an economic crime fighter. He ought to have been the first to point out to the government the untidiness of the promotion. That he did not do this shows that he just like the criminals he is after, has a price-for him, a promotion. In fact, he ought to be charged to court for receiving unearned promotion, that was intended to influence him to act in certain ways in the future. He has gone to court, a very smart thing to do. We leave the court to decide his position.


As for his removal from the graduation venue, the Attorney General has now told the public that it had to do with improper dressing for such an event. It is now left for an investigating team to determine whether appearing for such event in uniform is a tradition, custom and not a rule. If it is not a rule, he would be deemed to have dress appropriately since he appeared in formal attire, in our environment. But if otherwise, he should not just have been whisked but arrested and charged by the police for constituting himself into a public nuisance in such a gathering. Certificates are awarded to those who have been found worthy first, in character then learning. If he is out of character, his certificate stands to be withdrawn. It is good that the government has ordered that it be awarded to him until the court decides his status- he entered the institutes as an AIG and nothing else.


To my mind, nobody is after him, had there been any reason to persecute him, his statements in the past would have been enough. He told us there was an already established case against most of the governors and the former Vice President but which the current boss of the commission has disputed. Conclusion, either he took the files with him to protect those who later fell in line or he was lying, either ways, he has betrayed the public trust and deserve to be put on trial. Ribadu I must state, is a sitting target for government offensive should they decide to deal with him.


Ilobi Austin. ilobidominic@gmail.com an event analyst writes from Warri.