NOT pleased with the recent dismissal of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu from the Police force, former President Olusegun Obasanjo is reportedly lobbying for his reinstatement.
The Nation learnt that Obasanjo is putting pressure on President Umar Yar'Adua and the Police authorities to reinstate Ribadu who was dismissed for alleged indiscipline.
Obasanjo is said to be worried that Ribadu's dismissal is a dent on his anti-corruption legacy which he (Obasanjo) regards as one of his major achievements.
The former president also considers Ribadu's sack as a personal indictment since he was the one that recommended his promotion that should have been approved by the Police Service Commission, PSC.
The lobby for Ribadu's reinstatement is said to be a move to prevent Obasanjo from being probed by the EFCC, a source hinted.
It was not clear what the reaction of the President to his predecessor's move would be at the weekend."President Yar'Adua is however said to be bothered about charges of indiscipline against Ribadu by the Police force.
"You know the position of the President to issues that bothers on due process. Ordinarily he wouldn't think about such matter as an officer duly dismissed.
"But, again, he has some measure of respect for his predecessor, which makes the issue of Ribadu's recall a source of intense concern to him," a presidency source said.
Some of the misconducts allegedly perpetrated by Ribadu after his demotion included: Improper dressing by appearing in plain clothes while on official courtesy visit to Mr. President on 13th November, 2008 with other NIPSS Course participants, contrary to rule 030301 (k) of the
Public Service Rules 2006.
Others included institution of legal proceedings against the Inspector-General of Police, Attorney-General of the Federation and the Police Service Commission on 2
ndOctober, 2008 at the Federal High Court, Lagos; refusal to wear police uniform with the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) following his demotion from the rank of Assistant Inspector General (AIG); refusal to appear before the Police Committee Panel and refusal to go on transfer to Benin after completing the NIPSS Course.
Following the recommendation of the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mike Okiro early December, the police authorities subsequently announced Ribadu's dismissal from the Police Force on Tuesday, December 23, 2008.
Okiro, who broke the news during a press briefing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja said Ribadu's "refusal to accept his posting or report for duty is a very serious misconduct and may lead to dismissal in the Armed Forces and the Police as such action is inimical to national security".
Expectedly, Ribadu's dismissal from the Police Force was greeted with reactions from members of the public.
Activist-lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) while reacting to the news of the dismissal said: "It was the act of an evil, lawless and corrupt government".
For right activist, Mr. Femi Falana, Ribadu's "dismissal is contemptuous of the pending suit filed by Mr. Ribadu against the Police Service Commission and the IGP".
However former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), described the dismissal of the former anti-corruption czar from the Police Force as "long overdue".
Akinjide, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, said Ribadu should have left office with former President Obasanjo in May 2007.
"He should have gone with President Obasanjo. His holding on to office was the biggest mistake he made", he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Speaking in the same vein, Mallam Garba Shehu, the media aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, in a press statement last week had described the present travails of the former EFCC boss as "pay back time".
According to Shehu, Ribadu was a pawn in the hands of Obasanjo, who used him at will to hound his perceived political opponents.
Some members of the civil society including the Movement Against Corruption (MAC), a coalition of 300 groups have, however, been drumming up support for the embattled former EFCC chair.
The group, at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday said Ribadu's dismissal in what it called questionable circumstances "only betrays the conclusion of a script this government commenced acting precisely a year ago when it summarily removed Ribadu from office".
"Ribadu's dismissal from the Police Force sends a very strong and wrong signal to the entire workforce of the Nigerian public service on how not to efficiently discharge official responsibilities, particularly when such borders on integrity of highly-placed 'dirty' persons in the society", it added.
Four civil society organizations have also petitioned the United Nations Special Rapporteur, Mr. Leandro Despouy, over the dismissal of Ribadu from the Police Force.
The group, Socio-Economic Accountability Project (SERAP), Committee for the Defence of Human Right (CDHR), Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and Partnership for Justice (PFJ) in a petition dated December 30, accused the police authorities of failing to follow what they called internationally recognized fair trial standards.
The petition was signed by SERAP Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni; CDHR President Olasupo Ojo; WARDC Executive Director Abiola Afolabi-Akiyode, and PFJ Managing Partner, Itoro Eze-Anaba.

ribadu will never be reinstated under pres. yarádua govt. period!

this news is a pure lie

They just want to give credibility to an illegal and unconstitutional act. No amount of OBJ name dropping will help achieve that.

The courts will re-instate Ribadu

mikeansy:

this news is a pure lie

They just want to give credibility to an illegal and unconstitutional act. No amount of OBJ name dropping will help achieve that.

The courts will re-instate Ribadu

Well said.

This goverment seem to be only good in buying over some corrupt press men to manipulate public opinion. I keep asking myself where the press that took on Obasanjo on hyper-activity is keeping dumb over Yaradull's inactivity. Aandokaa-Ibori-Usman should know that the triumph of good over evil is only temporary but never permanent. This is just another unneeded diversion from the apparent weakness on the side of the sailors of this sinking sheep!!

I personally think that OBJ wrote this script after the failed third thirm project and it saddens my heart each day how YRD govt keep making OBJ look like the perfect model of leadership.

who knows, i wont dismiss it offhand that quick tho,knowing what our country nigeria is like, they always strive to break their records and stranger and stranger occurences have been overtaking each other over the years,so i wont be suprised if ribadu was re instated

OBJ is definitely smarter than that, don't be fooled

certainly Ribadu will be re-instated by the courts

If the Presidency does it then I will see this as an attempt at exit strategy after a failed process.

The use of OBJ's name to confuse members of the public is getting ridiculous.