FG drops charges against Ribadu

[bamalli]

As Jonathan clears way for his return
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—RESPITE finally came the way of the pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday, as the Federal Government, formally dropped criminal charges filed against him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

The tribunal struck out the four-count criminal charges against Ribadu at its resumed hearing on the matter, following an application filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, urging it to discontinue further hearing on the matter.

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

The AGF also prayed the court to vacate the warrant of arrest it earlier issued against him.

The charges were dropped on a day counsel to the embattled anti-corruption czar, Femi Falana, intimated journalists that his client has concluded plans to return to the country in the coming weeks.

Falana who was fielding questions from journalists immediately after the proceedings, said nothing inhibited Ribadu from taking up an appointment under the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.

He refuted insinuations from some quarters that the Acting President was actually instrumental to the withdrawal of the criminal charges against Ribadu.

AGF files nolle prosequi

The Special Assistant to the AGF on Litigation, Dr. Joshua Olakayode Olatoke, who filed the application to withdraw the charges against Ribadu, had insisted that "the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, vested on the AGF the power of nolle prosequi, to discontinue any criminal prosecution at any stage of the case, so far judgment has not been entered."

Olatoke told the court that it was within this prerogative that the erstwhile Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN, before the dissolution of the Executive Council of the Federation by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, reviewed the case against Ribadu and directed that it be withdrawn.

It would be recalled that Ribadu was dragged to the tribunal by former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, over his alleged failure to declare his personal assets while in office as the EFCC boss.

Though the criminal action commenced on January 13, 2009, Ribadu, however, refused   to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, while alleging threats to his life.

He had, however, instructed his lawyers from his London residence, to file a preliminary objection on his behalf, wherein he challenged the jurisdiction of the Justice Constance Momoh led panel to prosecute him in absentia.

Following his refusal to return to the country for trial, Justice Momoh on November 20, 2009, ordered his immediate apprehension.

That order was, however, vacated yesterday by a new panel, headed by Justice Muritala Sani Adebayo.
Justice Adebayo was appointed by Ag. President Jonathan to take over from Justice Momoh at the tribunal.

While arguing the application for withdrawal, Falana, insisted that there was no valid case against his client.

He said: "We are not opposing the issue of withdrawal because at the sitting of this tribunal on December 4, 2009, the assets declaration forms of the accused person were tendered by us and the tribunal graciously admitted them.

"Since my learned friend has examined the file and found it necessary to withdraw the charge, we are not opposing."
Consequently, the two-man panel of justices led by Justice Adebayo, in their short ruling, held that "while section 24(i) of the CCB Act is sufficient to enable us accede to this request; section 174(c) of the 1999 constitution confers extensive powers on the AGF to proceed or discontinue a criminal trial before judgment is delivered.

"In the circumstance, we believe that this application is proper and in order with the laws of our land. Therefore, this suit is hereby struck-out and the warrant of arrest issued against the accused person on November 20, 2009, is hereby discharged."

Among friends of Ribadu who besieged the court room, yesterday, to show solidarity with their pal, was the embattled former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

FRM:vanguard Newspaper

[HUSNAA]

Kudos to the govt of Goodluck Jonathan for bringing back sanity to many sections of the society, for example petrol reverted back to its 65 Naira price and became very available immediately after GJ became acting president. Now Rubadu is cleared of wrong doings after being so spitefully hounded throu vindictiveness.
To marasa kaunar rubadu sai su sa igiya su rataya kansu su huta. Lets hope his tenure in office is marked by war against corruption, kuma I hope he brings back Rubadu as Chairman of the EFCC, a maida wa kura aniyar ta.

[Dan-Borno]

nole prosqui! what was marigayi doing? thanks to goodluck,
a sako ribadu ya ciji duwawon duk wani barawon siyasa masu
neman kujera a 2011.

[gogannaka]

I doubt if Ribadu can be re-instated as EFCC chairman.
The latest going round is that Jonathan is going to appoint him as special adviser on anti-corruption.

From alla indication also, El-Rufai's charges will be dropped too.


Duniya juyi juyi.

[bakangizo]

Kwarai kuwa goga! Ai hauka a maida shi EFCC. Sai dai da yake dama shi karen farautar Obasanjo ne, ba mamaki tunda gwamnati ta koma gun Obj. Suna iya dawo da shi, yazo ya sake yi wa Jonathan/Obj "dirty works" a 2011. Allah Ya tsare mu da 'yan kore.

[Dan-Borno]

"dirty job", i cant understand why bakangizo is using this
word.  however if it means doing the job that others cant
do correctly, i can agree with you.

generally, despite the little administrative problems here and
there, EFCC during Ribadu has recorded success more than
failures, it has reached almost every angle and every sector
of the government.

Whichever way round, His Excellency, President Jonathan can
recall back Ribadu to instill fear on these Governors who
think it is only their wish that will be implemented and have
succeeded in invading our senate - especially gwamnonin arewa.
Old case files against them should be brought out and new
guidelines be released that any public office holder who has some
case to answer with the EFCC or ICPC should not be cleared
by INEC to contest any position in Naija - if that is the plan, i
dey support my President.

Allah sa ka gama lafiya.

[HUSNAA]

Kwarai kuwa goga! Ai hauka a maida shi EFCC. Sai dai da yake dama shi karen farautar Obasanjo ne, ba mamaki tunda gwamnati ta koma gun Obj. Suna iya dawo da shi, yazo ya sake yi wa Jonathan/Obj "dirty works" a 2011. Allah Ya tsare mu da 'yan kore.

Kai me thinks that Rubadu and BKG sun je neman auren same girl Rubadu ya kasa GGNK and GGNK is not being gracious about it :P ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D. Kai wannan kiyayyar haka!! What ever method Ribadu used to get at these corrupt individuals it worked!! In ma karan farautar OBJ ne he is more than welcomed back and in hauka ne a maida shi EFCC then we hope he gets something more than EFCC so that he becomes zakin farautar GJ/ OBJ!! Welcome back Rubadu and more grease to yr already oiled elbow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gogannaka]

Point of correction.
My name came up twice instead of BKGZ's.

[HUSNAA]

Point of correction.
My name came up twice instead of BKGZ's.

Quite!!!! Lol just shows how I only remember those I think about often enough.

[Dan-Borno]

........ how I only remember those I think about often enough.

i sense a systematic coup against muhsin.  kana ina?

[ummutameem]

hmm, so this is where all of u r hiding.

husna, u hav become very scarce.

the charges against ribadu were mostly bogus, politically motivated to scare him.

el rufai's case on the other hand has some merit, d abuse of office can stick, moreso they have refused to grant him bail on his own recognisance. i also feel it is not in his best interest to sue efcc??????????

well one thing can be said 'we are living in interesting times'

[gogannaka]

Point of correction.
My name came up twice instead of BKGZ's.

Quite!!!! Lol just shows how I only remember those I think about often enough.

8) 8) 8)

[bakangizo]

Kwarai kuwa goga! Ai hauka a maida shi EFCC. Sai dai da yake dama shi karen farautar Obasanjo ne, ba mamaki tunda gwamnati ta koma gun Obj. Suna iya dawo da shi, yazo ya sake yi wa Jonathan/Obj "dirty works" a 2011. Allah Ya tsare mu da 'yan kore.

Kai me thinks that Rubadu and BKG sun je neman auren same girl Rubadu ya kasa GGNK and GGNK is not being gracious about it :P ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D. Kai wannan kiyayyar haka!! What ever method Ribadu used to get at these corrupt individuals it worked!! In ma karan farautar OBJ ne he is more than welcomed back and in hauka ne a maida shi EFCC then we hope he gets something more than EFCC so that he becomes zakin farautar GJ/ OBJ!! Welcome back Rubadu and more grease to yr already oiled elbow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are getting this wrong, goga. Believe me. There's nothing good about Ribadu's methods. I'm all for fighting corruption. And I hope and pray that we live to see the day corruption is wiped out in this country. And I firmly believe that no stone should be left unturned toward quashing public office looters, whoever they are, and wherever they maybe. But what Ribadu did, in tandem with Obj, is  highly unfortunate. A situation where a govt agency,a security outfit, is used under the guise of fighting corruption, but really for the purpose of haunting political opponents, is not the best. Allah ne Ya taimake mu, don Allah ba azzalumin kowa bane. Shi yasa ta juye da shi. Ribadu was not an impartial arbitar, he was not neutral. He was just a weapon fashioned out to fight for feedeefee, or more precisely, OBJ. And you'll be naive to think that just because some thieves were caught (forgetting that bigger thieves were left untouched simply bcos they belong to the right camp), then Ribaadu's ways and means were justified. No. No fight against injustice can be justified if it is done unjustly. Inna mal'a'amal, bin niyyat.

[Dan-Borno]

sam sam ba zaiyuba, bakangizo you got the whole thing wrong and you
are talking as if you are from the world's most corrupt free nation claiming
not to know how things undergo surgery in nigeria.

kai da kanka kasan cewa before the advent of efcc, akwai special department
in the nigeria police that handles fraud, corruption and other financial crimes.
but maganan Allah, ka fadi gaskiya, to what extent have they achieved
the desired goal?  its all marred by corruption and corrupt officers handle all
cases.  criminal cases charged  do die a natural death.

olusegun obasanjo in his wisdom, having been a product of the same government
and knowing how the nigeria police handle casses, deems it fit to give it a
face lift with a new law backing it with able young men (like you and I) to fight
corruption and nuhu ribadu was appointed without any god father and without
given regard to from which section of the country he is from.

throughout his stewardship, if you are to score it over 100, i will give him 75%
and up till now, its ribadus cases that are still been prosecuted in the efcc.

i agree there are flows here and there, this you find in every other organisation
just like how sanusi lamido sanusi unraveled a mystery (which made you abandon
your former bank as gogannaka revealed to us in search for a better bank).
however, as a nascent organisation with barely only 4 years with both its inauguration
and taking off, training of staff and reposting of others from other sister organization
couple with the theory of rule of law which says every one is not guilty until
proved BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT while lawyers do everything to sabotage
evidences.  Haba Bakangizo, ai ribadu yayi kokari.

[bakangizo]

Wa yace maka he was apponited without god father? Akwai godfather da ya fi obsanjo? Ba'a ce bai yi komai ba, amma lalatar da ya shiga yi daga baya itace illa a society. In zaka yaki cin hanci da rashawa, kayi tsakani da Allah. Ba a boye wasu manyan barayi ba suna tabargaza simply bcos they are in consonant with the political agenda being pursued at that time.  I repeat, karen farautar obj ne to scare away opponents and opposition. Allah ya rabu mu da irin su Ribadu, amin.