P.M.News learnt last night that Malam Ribadu still reported to work yesterday, eagerly awaiting the letter. But there was no such letter, several days after Okiro, announced Ribadu’s nomination for the course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.
Instead, the letter Malam Ribadu got from the Police High Command was the one from the Commissioner of Police, S. D. Fakai, demanding the “nominal roll” of all the police officers, working for EFCC.
There are an estimated 300 police officers working for EFCC. Fakai’s letter was dated 31 December and addressed to the chairman of the EFCC. It was not clear why the Police High Command wrote the letter since it should have the information about its men on duty transfer to the EFCC, where the minimum pay for the lowest ranked policeman is said to be N60,000 per annum.
Yesterday, the Presidency broke its silence on the raging controversy over the decision of Okiro to send Ribadu on course.
The Presidency confirmed that Okiro received its consent before picking Ribadu for the training in Kuru.
Special Adviser to President Umaru Yar’Adua on Communications, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, confirmed that Okiro’s recommendation on Ribadu “means Ribadu will attend NIPSS like other officers so recommended.”
Adeniyi added that Ribadu “mishandled” the NIPSS course issue, in apparent reference to the public outcry that has trailed his removal from EFCC.
“The President feels sad about the blackmail which has become almost a permanent feature now. The moment the EFCC chairman has issues with any public official, be it the Attorney General or the IGP, the next thing you would hear is that the President wants to remove him to protect some corrupt former governors.”
Meanwhile, Okiro will meet with the 300 police officers attached to the EFCC today in Abuja.
Sources said the meeting is to allay the fears of the officers who are said to be jittery over their fate in the wake of the recent developments in EFCC.
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