December 24, 2007
Former governors facing corruption trials in Nigeria have revved up their war against the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu.
According to authoritative sources at Aso Rock Villa, the arrest of James Ibori has brought tremendous pressure on the Yar'adua government to finally remove Nuhu Ribadu as EFCC chairman. Yar'adua may have buckled under pressure and agreed with administration hawks led by Baba Gana Kingibe, the secretary to the Federal government to remove Nuhu Ribadu as the chairman of the EFCC. He is expected to be replaced with another police officer, Solomon Arase known to be a close associate of James Ibori, and a former aide to the disgraced Police Chief, Tafa Balogun. Arese, who recently edited a book on the future of the Nigerian Police, holds an LLM in law like Ribadu. He is expected act in Ribadu's place until the Yar’adua government appoints another substantive chairman.
The planned removal of Nuhu Ribadu was agreed upon in a meeting with Umar Yar'adua, Baba Gana Kingibe, Inspector General of Police Michael Okiro and the Attorney General of the federation, Michael Aondoankaa. The decision that is to be implemented by the Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro was reached after the planned merger of anti-corruption agencies –EFCC, ICPC and the CCB- fell apart on the strength of opposition from the National Assembly and a broad civil society platform last week.
Knowledgeable sources privy to the new plot, say Nuhu Ribadu will be sent on a compulsory officer's course at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru near Jos, Plateau state by the Inspector General of Police. Mike Okiro was asked to prepare a memo to Umar Yar'adua asking for approval from him to send Nuhu Ribadu on the course to Kuru.
Nuhu Ribadu holds the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) and the claim that he had not attended the policy college was always advertised as a draw back against his possible elevation to head the police force. The new plot is therefore conceived as a promotion for him.
With Ribadu's planned transfer, the IG will transfer the rest of the operations teams at the EFCC to other sectors within the police force, while newer police operatives will be brought in to run the EFCC. If the plans sail through, the Attorney General of the Federation will then take over all EFCC cases from the lawyers handling them on behalf of the agency.
In particular, the office of the AGF will withdraw all case files involving former governors accused of corruption from the EFCC. The planned removal of the Nuhu Ribadu came on the heels of allegations made against the EFCC chairman at the presidency that he aided former president Obasanjo's daughter, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello in the N3.5 billion scandal. The Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro is an appointee of James Ibori. He was appointed in May 2007 by-passing a more senior DIG, Onovo to clinch the position.
Saharareporters had reported that shortly before James Ibori returned back to Nigeria from the US in October, three DIGs met with him overnight in Los Angeles where his safe return to Nigeria was planned. James Ibori returned to Nigeria undetected a few days later, members of the top echelon of the Nigerian Police facilitated his return. The EFCC arrested James Ibori two weeks ago and charged him before a Federal High Court in Kaduna for corruption and abuse of office. He was slammed with 129 charges. James Ibori was denied bail last week and remanded in Kaduna Prison.
James Ibori our sources said, now runs the Police force from Kaduna Prison . Expectedly, the latest plot has elicited jubilation from James Ibori's camp. They bragged to Saharareporters that the "deed will be done in two days".
According to authoritative sources at Aso Rock Villa, the arrest of James Ibori has brought tremendous pressure on the Yar'adua government to finally remove Nuhu Ribadu as EFCC chairman. Yar'adua may have buckled under pressure and agreed with administration hawks led by Baba Gana Kingibe, the secretary to the Federal government to remove Nuhu Ribadu as the chairman of the EFCC. He is expected to be replaced with another police officer, Solomon Arase known to be a close associate of James Ibori, and a former aide to the disgraced Police Chief, Tafa Balogun. Arese, who recently edited a book on the future of the Nigerian Police, holds an LLM in law like Ribadu. He is expected act in Ribadu's place until the Yar’adua government appoints another substantive chairman.
The planned removal of Nuhu Ribadu was agreed upon in a meeting with Umar Yar'adua, Baba Gana Kingibe, Inspector General of Police Michael Okiro and the Attorney General of the federation, Michael Aondoankaa. The decision that is to be implemented by the Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro was reached after the planned merger of anti-corruption agencies –EFCC, ICPC and the CCB- fell apart on the strength of opposition from the National Assembly and a broad civil society platform last week.
Knowledgeable sources privy to the new plot, say Nuhu Ribadu will be sent on a compulsory officer's course at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru near Jos, Plateau state by the Inspector General of Police. Mike Okiro was asked to prepare a memo to Umar Yar'adua asking for approval from him to send Nuhu Ribadu on the course to Kuru.
Nuhu Ribadu holds the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) and the claim that he had not attended the policy college was always advertised as a draw back against his possible elevation to head the police force. The new plot is therefore conceived as a promotion for him.
With Ribadu's planned transfer, the IG will transfer the rest of the operations teams at the EFCC to other sectors within the police force, while newer police operatives will be brought in to run the EFCC. If the plans sail through, the Attorney General of the Federation will then take over all EFCC cases from the lawyers handling them on behalf of the agency.
In particular, the office of the AGF will withdraw all case files involving former governors accused of corruption from the EFCC. The planned removal of the Nuhu Ribadu came on the heels of allegations made against the EFCC chairman at the presidency that he aided former president Obasanjo's daughter, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello in the N3.5 billion scandal. The Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro is an appointee of James Ibori. He was appointed in May 2007 by-passing a more senior DIG, Onovo to clinch the position.
Saharareporters had reported that shortly before James Ibori returned back to Nigeria from the US in October, three DIGs met with him overnight in Los Angeles where his safe return to Nigeria was planned. James Ibori returned to Nigeria undetected a few days later, members of the top echelon of the Nigerian Police facilitated his return. The EFCC arrested James Ibori two weeks ago and charged him before a Federal High Court in Kaduna for corruption and abuse of office. He was slammed with 129 charges. James Ibori was denied bail last week and remanded in Kaduna Prison.
James Ibori our sources said, now runs the Police force from Kaduna Prison . Expectedly, the latest plot has elicited jubilation from James Ibori's camp. They bragged to Saharareporters that the "deed will be done in two days".
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