Ribadu must go to school –Okiro

Police authorities yesterday explained that the nomination of Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for a training programme at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) was not aimed at forestalling the prosecution of high profile corrupt public officers.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mike Okiro, who spoke with newsmen yesterday in Abuja stressed that the nomination was a routine training programme fashioned out for certain category of public servants, aimed at improving their level of professional proficiency.

He debunked claims in some quarters that it was a witch hunt aimed at crippling Ribadu and having a less aggressive personality at the helm of affairs of the EFCC and eventually stop the arrest and prosecution of the former state governors who had already been declared corrupt by the commission.

Reacting, Mallam Ribadu said he has not been informed of the course at NIPSS.

Speaking with Channels television last night, he said he would not comment on what "I have not seen".

He said there are some desperate people bent on frustrating the EFCC’s anti-graft war.

Ribadu said operatives of the commission had interrogated the daughter of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. (Mrs.) Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello over corruption allegations against her.

Okiro said the claim that he was part of a high profile plot aimed at halting the on-going arrest and investigation of corrupt public officials, was unfounded, and a "calculated attempt to smear my good name and reputation, built over the years as well as portray the Nigeria Police in bad light.

He said he was neither a politician nor an interested party in any corrupt investigation and therefore would not benefit in any way directly in their investigation.

"I Wish to make it clear that sending eligible officers on course is a normal routine in every service, the police inclusive. Sending police officers on such courses is for their own advantage, development and for the benefit of the force.

"For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that the criteria for sending officers on course as contained in NIPSS guidelines which the police are following are as follows:

The officer must not be less than 40 years of age;

The officer must be a graduate from a recognised university to cope with the academic load;

The officer must have more than five years to retire from service;

The officer must not be less than a Permanent Secretary in the state civil service or a Director in the federal civil service or a Colonel in the military or its equivalent in the para-military service."

The police boss explaining further said seven officers from the police have been slated to attend the forthcoming NIPSS course and AIG Nuhu Ribadu is the second on the list based on seniority and the above guidelines, hence he is nominated to attend the course.

"He is not being sent on course for any other ulterior motive than the reasons stated above, which he satisfies. He is not being sent to NIPSS on the prompting of any external body or bodies.

This will not stop the anti-corruption campaign which EFCC is fighting. It will rather help him perform better. There should be no hue and cry about this. The essence is to develop him and also help the force," Okiro said.

However, a source at the Force headquarters told our reporter that Ribadu, contrary to reports had not attended any qualifying course which were pre-requisites to promotion to even the rank of a commissioner of police, not to talk of being elevated to the rank of an AIG.

The sources said that under normal circumstances, Ribadu would at best remain as a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and did not qualify to wear his current rank, since he is still a serving police officer.

"If the argument is that he is not a police officer currently, then, why did he come here to receive his pips the time he was elevated. He remains a police officer and therefore is susceptible to all the rules and regulations contained in the Police Order Act.

He can not do otherwise as doing so or engaging in subtle media campaign the way it is being done is not in the interest of the country and he knows it that is why he can not come out and insult his boss the IGP, the sources added.

Astmartins interesting how these administrative anomalies tend to crop up usually in these contexts where their is potential for serious change within the police service. Last year had intense meetings with a particularly progressive Police Chief who was serious about his business and was informally putting feelers out world wide for proven people to help him sort out mess serious mess..

Sent home boy my plans and strategy of how were were going to deal with a particular issue through a safe mechanism..which he would pick up when he came back to the country on say a Monday..When my man reached the country Monday morning he was met by powerful dudes from the ministry who told him he had to go on leave like now. Here the joke, because he had about six months annual leave outstanding which were against Ministry policy which they knew from time because he had to take charge of so much serious shit like investigate bent coppers close to particular Ministers..Home boy has not been back to run his force and lead proposed changes to this day..Sitting at home up to now doing jack and being paid.

Funny how these coincidences happen, whether it is in Africa, Caribbean or the Western world..these damn minor administrative shit always pop up their heads..

@fredB

True Talk .......Its the same all over upset the heirachy and boom!!...either they transfer you to another position-early retirement-or even worse a hired assasin
The impact this Ribadu chap has on the nigerian pysche is immense and they getting rid of him at the peak of his powers when hes most needed
It would be better for him to quit the force then force the hand of the president to sack him apparently only the President can do this and consequently signal to the world community that Nigeria is not ready to move forward
The Caribbean haven't had a serious military take over maybe Trinidad but you would be able to comment on that too lazy to research at the moment however Countries like Nigeria and Kenya are sending all the signals to the boys in the Army Barrack to stage a comeback what i observe is the plight of the common man is still the same...maybe in Nigeria there could be a visionary military man that would take over declare a one party or at most two-party state and then run for power..honestly this democracy thing ain't working in most or all parts of Africa period!! there needs to be a more practical means of governance but western forms of Democracy it ain't too many divisions and tribalistic tendencies

Astmartin. It is not humanly possible to be able to be on top of every thing we need to be and that's why i am fortunate to have people like you to post stuff of particular relevance to me. Hence why all intelligence agencies or units are organised by desks...Anything moves in the Caribbean even who is screwing who that is my business.

The enemy does what they have to do..That's their job ours is to outmanoeuvre and check mate them every opportunity and battle..Just how it goes..

I will take your take on the Nigerian dynamics, but part of a strategy can be to force a Chief to fire you..I did that as senior police advisor knowing the fool would expose himself and you will take him out which is what I achieved..Sometimes you've got to sacrifice because that is the only rational option..It'sf all about chess games and end games..But my normal view is that it is always wiser, until contradicted by evidence, to force an enemy into a position or allow him to think he is thinking but in ways you have already predetermined..If as you said the government will be exposed internationally and this has deep ramifications for the people of Nigeria in being outraged when a loyal and committed public is removed from post no matter what sham of an excuse they use..

Sometimes that is how battles are won...

Because it limits the room for manoeuvre when the next wave of attacks come.That is why sacrifice is necessary and good soldiers must fall on their swords for their comrades who will come behind them...They simply cannot pull the same strokes because a new and skilful operator will tie the hands of the new ruler..So the end game i suggest in Nigeria is far from over..This is just part of the story and drama which is unfolding..

No doubt the culture of corruption wherea military elite have taken power is completely different from a civilian 'pusht ' to use the German word. The capacity for violence and superior organisation being the most obvious....but the fundamental dynamics in how legitimacy is maintained, especially in managing corruption are not disimilar.

But in the case of my fallen friend the Chief, yes he has got mass support from the people, but the regime can ride that out with some quick fix cosmetic changes. But my man has to take responsibility for his lack of judgement because when we spoke after i listen to all his woes and potential enemies and where they would be coming at him from etc i outlined precisely how i thougth shit would go down based on my experiene and the kind of time scale and speed he needed to be moving at if he needed to be moving at if he was to survive what i sniffed from my own sources which he clearly did not have a clue about..

Irony is this..Me and this Chief had a meeting planned a year earlier. I fly in and he was delayed abroad and i couldn't re jig my shit or wouldn't so it never happened..That year delay killed him dead because it allowed his enemies to position themselves for the key onslaught..In the serious areas of life..if you blink your dead and my man blinked..Simple as..took to long to set up that first missed meeting.