November 16, 2008
Nuhu Ribadu
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies,
Kuru, Plateau State
14th November 2008
Attention: Mrs. Farida Waziri
The Chairman,
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
5 Fomella Street,
Off Adetokunboh Ademola Street,
Wuse ll, Abuja
Re: Release of Nuhu Ribadu
I write in response to your letter of 23rd October 2008 requesting my release to meet with the Commission regarding “several fundamental issues that have arisen which require clarification.”
As you are probably aware, my course at the policy institute is now at its waning phase, and I am in the middle of many of our exit programmes. For this reason therefore, I regret that, much as I would have loved to meet your team, this is a most inauspicious time for me to make any trip from the institute until the final graduation ceremony on November 22, 2008
After our initial phone dialogue two days ago, I have made many unsuccessful efforts at reaching you again to share this view of my reflection on your invitation with you.
However, in response to your stated desire for a “formal handover” from me, let me affirm clearly that I have made a formal and proper handing over to the then Ag. Executive Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, ACP, way back in January 2008. Should you therefore require any assistance in this regard, permit me to recommend that you first direct such request to Mr. Lamorde, who, in any case, is the person expected to handover to you.
In saying this however, please be assured also that I remain prepared to offer any assistance in the event that you require further clarity on any matter arising from your briefing. If this is your preferred option, kindly convey such specific requests to me, in writing, to enable me offer a structured response.
Whilst trusting in your kind consideration of my request, I remain.
Yours faithfully,
NUHU RIBADU
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ribadu escapes assassination-NATIONAL DAILY
http://www.nationaldailyngr.com/cover.htm
• Re-challenges demotion at Abuja Court • Alleges witch-hunt by Police Service Commission • How he escaped EFCC arrest
By SULEMAN DAUDU
MALLAM Nuhu Ribadu, one of the most globally acclaimed and celebrated anti graft czars is fast discovering that a prophet not only lacks honour in his home town but also security as he fights the battle of his life. Since his highly controversial removal from office as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the mystery surrounding his unceremonious sojourn and threatened withdrawal from the Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos, Plateau State, he has become a marked target.
Specifically, National Daily, Nigeria's most sought after fearlessly investigative newspaper can exclusively reveal the fact that but for what could only be believed as a stroke of luck or divine intervention Ribadu would have been felled by bullets of suspected assailants last October: no thanks to an attempt on his life by unknown gunmen.
According to impeccable sources at the NIPSS where the former Executive Chairman of the EFCC will soon be completing his study, news of the attempt on the life of the officer filtered as course mates returned from the Sallah/Independence holidays from September 30 to October 1, 2008.
Before the said attack, rumours had it that Ribadu's friends in the intelligence gathering unit of the various security agencies had hinted him of sinister moves by some known and unknown persons aimed at sniffing life out of him. The rumour was subsequently dismissed in some quarters as baseless and lacking proof.
But our sources further revealed that Nuhu, as he is fondly called by close allies had spent the holidays in Abuja and was headed back to Kuru Jos to resume studies when his suspected attackers struck.
The bullets which shattered the back seat side windshield and the rear windshield however missed the target: Ribadu.
Efforts to get details of the attack did not yield much result as sources close to the embattled police officer hinted that letting out a vivid description of the attack may end up glorifying the plotters.
Ribadu who is said to have left himself almighty God whom he was quoted as saying 'has the power to protect his life,' has since he was forced out of office earlier in the year been involved in series of seen and unseen battles with those toes he stepped on while in charge of the anti-corruption agency. And these perceived enemies have stopped at nothing to get their pound of flesh from Ribadu. These enemies are believed to be those investigated by the Economic Governance team of the EFCC under Ribadu as his then head of the Economic Governance team, Mr. Magu, who is presently on suspension from duty a police officer has suffered what many believe to be victimization and humiliation. Investigations revealed that the panel that was set up to court-marshal Magu at a point in their assignment were said to have been at a loss as to the actual crimes for which he was being court-marshalled. Until date, no charges have been preferred against Magu and he is still on suspension.
According to one of Ribadu's former aides who pleaded anonymity, "the strategy is either to humiliate him, dismiss him from the Police Force and jail him or completely eliminate him." But he (Ribadu) too is not relenting as he is exploring all available legal opportunities to protect his life and career, the aide added.
In a suit filed at The Federal High Court Lagos which he withdrew and refilled at the Federal High Court Abuja, against the Police Service Commission as first defendant, Inspector General of Police as second defendant and the Attorney General of the Federation as third defendant. Ribadu raised issues that lent credence to a conspiracy within the Police Force not only to humiliate him but to frustrate him. He questioned why the Force will adopt different standards for different people and why a Police Service Commission that congratulated and confirmed him through a letter when the President promoted him to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) will turn around to recommend his demotion to the rank of a Deputy Commissioner of Police. Moreover Ribadu gave examples to prove that there is a witch-hunt going on within the Force against him due to his forthrightness in carrying out his duties in the past. He singled out Alhaji Daura of the Police Service Commission who according to him is on a revenge mission because he (Ribadu) recommended for disciplinary actions against him when he was working at the IGP's office (Details in our next edition). The demotion he said flies in the face of reason because the three other officers that were demoted with him have since been promoted back to their ranks leaving him out. Many say Ribadu's case will throw up more mud within the Force.
A source at the anti graft agency who did not want to be named because he is not allowed to discuss such issues with the media told National Daily that sending Ribadu to Kuru was the first carrot aimed at getting him to keep quiet. When that did not work they resort to other arm twist tactics by trying to withdraw him from Kuru and subsequent demotion after the Police Service Commission congratulated him on his promotion. When that did not work the current Chairperson of the EFCC, Mrs Faridah Waziri alerted that some highly sensitive files were missing from the agency only to retract her words that it was rather a case of incomplete files.
She also invited Ribadu for questioning on his activities as the Head of the EFCC. Our source said that Mrs. Farida did not reckon with the widely help perception that Ribadu carried out his duties creditably well thus the outrage that ensued following her comments over her predecessor.
Waziri claimed in her letter to the IG that Nuhu did not properly hand over to her thereby seeking the IG's approval to direct the NIPSS to release Ribadu to honour the invitation.
Sources close to the commission hinted that the there are about 22 questions for Ribadu would have to answer to. They bother on office management, sale of recovered items, handling of some cases and claims that he kept duplicate copies of all case files he investigated, and above all to try to insist on searching his house with a view to finding any reason to incriminate him. However, aides of the present helmsperson of the EFCC dismissed these claims, insisting they were following the Rule of Law and also giving him a fair hearing.
We learnt that Nuhu Ribadu questioned Waziri's invitation to him when he was not the person that handed over to her. In a letter to Mrs. Waziri, Ribadu urged her to get in touch with Mallam Ibrahim Lamurde on any activities of the commission she felt any clarifications were needed as he dully handed over to Lamurde before leaving for NIPSS. He also stated his readiness to offer any assistance if needed or if there are any further grey areas that would need his presence. But he did not mince words in stating his unavailability since he is rounding off his programme at NIPSS by the end of November 2008.
National Daily Intelligence however gathered that the plot by the EFCC was to make Ribadu face a panel in the commission after which he would be detained or at best be asked to report to the commission the next morning from where he would have been arraigned on trumped-up charges. We further gathered that the expected drama of his arraignment would have made the NIPSS to drop his name from the graduating list despite completing his course.
Some operatives who still secretly admire their former boss hinted him of the plot, hence, he declined to honour the invitation at the last minute, citing the need to complete his course at NIPSS which concludes in a few days and the fact that Lamurde and not him should answer to any queries, as he (Ribadu) dully handed over to Lamurde, as reasons. He was also said to have confided in close friends that if the new chairman of the commission feels there are any grey areas in any investigation carried out under his leadership, she has every right to re-open such investigations as no investigation can be said to have concluded so much that it can no longer be re-opened.
According to sources at the Commission's head office in Abuja, it would have been foolhardy of Ribadu if he honoured the invitation having been in charge of the agency and knowing what could befall him.
Further investigations reveal that some operatives at the commission believe that it was needless of the agency engaging in seeming confrontation with its former boss as he does not in anyway have any effect on the way the commission is suppose to function under Waziri. They however adopt a wait-and-see approach to what Waziri makes out of the planned onslaught against Ribadu.
Had the Police high command and the authorities envisaged that Nuhu Ribadu would take them to court they would have adopted other means to keep him out of the picture a source at the Police Headquarters Abuja informed us. Moreso, there are disquiet among the former governors that Ribadu has enough on each of them to put them away for life but with one of their own as president this is the best time to shut Ribadu up for life. This according to our source at the EFCC is the main reason behind the travails of Nuhu Ribadu. It could be recalled that Ribadu had informed the National Assembly that 31 former governors could be prosecuted.
We were also informed that the Commission under Ribadu ran into the bad book of some of the President's men who are said to have benefited from where they did not sow in the early part of this administration.
Friends and relatives are said to be worried over his safety as the earlier attempt on his life few weeks ago almost snuffed him out. On his way back to Kuru Jos from Abuja after the Independence/Sallah holidays gunmen reportedly waylaid and shot at his Honda Accord 2007 model car smashing the rear side glass and rear windscreen. But Ribadu escaped unhurt. The huge questions on the lips of millions of Nigerians are: who wants Ribadu dead and why? If the plotters succeed will it not be difficult to get citizens to stake their lives and image for the interest of the nation like Ribadu is believed by many to have done?
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies,
Kuru, Plateau State
14th November 2008
Attention: Mrs. Farida Waziri
The Chairman,
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
5 Fomella Street,
Off Adetokunboh Ademola Street,
Wuse ll, Abuja
Re: Release of Nuhu Ribadu
I write in response to your letter of 23rd October 2008 requesting my release to meet with the Commission regarding “several fundamental issues that have arisen which require clarification.”
As you are probably aware, my course at the policy institute is now at its waning phase, and I am in the middle of many of our exit programmes. For this reason therefore, I regret that, much as I would have loved to meet your team, this is a most inauspicious time for me to make any trip from the institute until the final graduation ceremony on November 22, 2008
After our initial phone dialogue two days ago, I have made many unsuccessful efforts at reaching you again to share this view of my reflection on your invitation with you.
However, in response to your stated desire for a “formal handover” from me, let me affirm clearly that I have made a formal and proper handing over to the then Ag. Executive Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, ACP, way back in January 2008. Should you therefore require any assistance in this regard, permit me to recommend that you first direct such request to Mr. Lamorde, who, in any case, is the person expected to handover to you.
In saying this however, please be assured also that I remain prepared to offer any assistance in the event that you require further clarity on any matter arising from your briefing. If this is your preferred option, kindly convey such specific requests to me, in writing, to enable me offer a structured response.
Whilst trusting in your kind consideration of my request, I remain.
Yours faithfully,
NUHU RIBADU
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ribadu escapes assassination-NATIONAL DAILY
http://www.nationaldailyngr.com/cover.htm
• Re-challenges demotion at Abuja Court • Alleges witch-hunt by Police Service Commission • How he escaped EFCC arrest
By SULEMAN DAUDU
MALLAM Nuhu Ribadu, one of the most globally acclaimed and celebrated anti graft czars is fast discovering that a prophet not only lacks honour in his home town but also security as he fights the battle of his life. Since his highly controversial removal from office as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the mystery surrounding his unceremonious sojourn and threatened withdrawal from the Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos, Plateau State, he has become a marked target.
Specifically, National Daily, Nigeria's most sought after fearlessly investigative newspaper can exclusively reveal the fact that but for what could only be believed as a stroke of luck or divine intervention Ribadu would have been felled by bullets of suspected assailants last October: no thanks to an attempt on his life by unknown gunmen.
According to impeccable sources at the NIPSS where the former Executive Chairman of the EFCC will soon be completing his study, news of the attempt on the life of the officer filtered as course mates returned from the Sallah/Independence holidays from September 30 to October 1, 2008.
Before the said attack, rumours had it that Ribadu's friends in the intelligence gathering unit of the various security agencies had hinted him of sinister moves by some known and unknown persons aimed at sniffing life out of him. The rumour was subsequently dismissed in some quarters as baseless and lacking proof.
But our sources further revealed that Nuhu, as he is fondly called by close allies had spent the holidays in Abuja and was headed back to Kuru Jos to resume studies when his suspected attackers struck.
The bullets which shattered the back seat side windshield and the rear windshield however missed the target: Ribadu.
Efforts to get details of the attack did not yield much result as sources close to the embattled police officer hinted that letting out a vivid description of the attack may end up glorifying the plotters.
Ribadu who is said to have left himself almighty God whom he was quoted as saying 'has the power to protect his life,' has since he was forced out of office earlier in the year been involved in series of seen and unseen battles with those toes he stepped on while in charge of the anti-corruption agency. And these perceived enemies have stopped at nothing to get their pound of flesh from Ribadu. These enemies are believed to be those investigated by the Economic Governance team of the EFCC under Ribadu as his then head of the Economic Governance team, Mr. Magu, who is presently on suspension from duty a police officer has suffered what many believe to be victimization and humiliation. Investigations revealed that the panel that was set up to court-marshal Magu at a point in their assignment were said to have been at a loss as to the actual crimes for which he was being court-marshalled. Until date, no charges have been preferred against Magu and he is still on suspension.
According to one of Ribadu's former aides who pleaded anonymity, "the strategy is either to humiliate him, dismiss him from the Police Force and jail him or completely eliminate him." But he (Ribadu) too is not relenting as he is exploring all available legal opportunities to protect his life and career, the aide added.
In a suit filed at The Federal High Court Lagos which he withdrew and refilled at the Federal High Court Abuja, against the Police Service Commission as first defendant, Inspector General of Police as second defendant and the Attorney General of the Federation as third defendant. Ribadu raised issues that lent credence to a conspiracy within the Police Force not only to humiliate him but to frustrate him. He questioned why the Force will adopt different standards for different people and why a Police Service Commission that congratulated and confirmed him through a letter when the President promoted him to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) will turn around to recommend his demotion to the rank of a Deputy Commissioner of Police. Moreover Ribadu gave examples to prove that there is a witch-hunt going on within the Force against him due to his forthrightness in carrying out his duties in the past. He singled out Alhaji Daura of the Police Service Commission who according to him is on a revenge mission because he (Ribadu) recommended for disciplinary actions against him when he was working at the IGP's office (Details in our next edition). The demotion he said flies in the face of reason because the three other officers that were demoted with him have since been promoted back to their ranks leaving him out. Many say Ribadu's case will throw up more mud within the Force.
A source at the anti graft agency who did not want to be named because he is not allowed to discuss such issues with the media told National Daily that sending Ribadu to Kuru was the first carrot aimed at getting him to keep quiet. When that did not work they resort to other arm twist tactics by trying to withdraw him from Kuru and subsequent demotion after the Police Service Commission congratulated him on his promotion. When that did not work the current Chairperson of the EFCC, Mrs Faridah Waziri alerted that some highly sensitive files were missing from the agency only to retract her words that it was rather a case of incomplete files.
She also invited Ribadu for questioning on his activities as the Head of the EFCC. Our source said that Mrs. Farida did not reckon with the widely help perception that Ribadu carried out his duties creditably well thus the outrage that ensued following her comments over her predecessor.
Waziri claimed in her letter to the IG that Nuhu did not properly hand over to her thereby seeking the IG's approval to direct the NIPSS to release Ribadu to honour the invitation.
Sources close to the commission hinted that the there are about 22 questions for Ribadu would have to answer to. They bother on office management, sale of recovered items, handling of some cases and claims that he kept duplicate copies of all case files he investigated, and above all to try to insist on searching his house with a view to finding any reason to incriminate him. However, aides of the present helmsperson of the EFCC dismissed these claims, insisting they were following the Rule of Law and also giving him a fair hearing.
We learnt that Nuhu Ribadu questioned Waziri's invitation to him when he was not the person that handed over to her. In a letter to Mrs. Waziri, Ribadu urged her to get in touch with Mallam Ibrahim Lamurde on any activities of the commission she felt any clarifications were needed as he dully handed over to Lamurde before leaving for NIPSS. He also stated his readiness to offer any assistance if needed or if there are any further grey areas that would need his presence. But he did not mince words in stating his unavailability since he is rounding off his programme at NIPSS by the end of November 2008.
National Daily Intelligence however gathered that the plot by the EFCC was to make Ribadu face a panel in the commission after which he would be detained or at best be asked to report to the commission the next morning from where he would have been arraigned on trumped-up charges. We further gathered that the expected drama of his arraignment would have made the NIPSS to drop his name from the graduating list despite completing his course.
Some operatives who still secretly admire their former boss hinted him of the plot, hence, he declined to honour the invitation at the last minute, citing the need to complete his course at NIPSS which concludes in a few days and the fact that Lamurde and not him should answer to any queries, as he (Ribadu) dully handed over to Lamurde, as reasons. He was also said to have confided in close friends that if the new chairman of the commission feels there are any grey areas in any investigation carried out under his leadership, she has every right to re-open such investigations as no investigation can be said to have concluded so much that it can no longer be re-opened.
According to sources at the Commission's head office in Abuja, it would have been foolhardy of Ribadu if he honoured the invitation having been in charge of the agency and knowing what could befall him.
Further investigations reveal that some operatives at the commission believe that it was needless of the agency engaging in seeming confrontation with its former boss as he does not in anyway have any effect on the way the commission is suppose to function under Waziri. They however adopt a wait-and-see approach to what Waziri makes out of the planned onslaught against Ribadu.
Had the Police high command and the authorities envisaged that Nuhu Ribadu would take them to court they would have adopted other means to keep him out of the picture a source at the Police Headquarters Abuja informed us. Moreso, there are disquiet among the former governors that Ribadu has enough on each of them to put them away for life but with one of their own as president this is the best time to shut Ribadu up for life. This according to our source at the EFCC is the main reason behind the travails of Nuhu Ribadu. It could be recalled that Ribadu had informed the National Assembly that 31 former governors could be prosecuted.
We were also informed that the Commission under Ribadu ran into the bad book of some of the President's men who are said to have benefited from where they did not sow in the early part of this administration.
Friends and relatives are said to be worried over his safety as the earlier attempt on his life few weeks ago almost snuffed him out. On his way back to Kuru Jos from Abuja after the Independence/Sallah holidays gunmen reportedly waylaid and shot at his Honda Accord 2007 model car smashing the rear side glass and rear windscreen. But Ribadu escaped unhurt. The huge questions on the lips of millions of Nigerians are: who wants Ribadu dead and why? If the plotters succeed will it not be difficult to get citizens to stake their lives and image for the interest of the nation like Ribadu is believed by many to have done?
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