More public outrage on Saturday trailed the plan by the police authorities to send the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on a study leave.
A former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa; and Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi vehemently faulted the ground for the action.
Buhari said Nigerians should look critically beyond the official reasons because it was meant to undermine the anti-graft war.
Speaking with Sunday Punch through his spokesman, Mallam Yau Shehu Darazo, he said the development had only confirmed the fear that the administration of President Umaru Yar�Adua had no credible agenda on the war against corruption.
He said, �This development is enough to show Nigerians Yar�Adua is in no position to fight corruption in Nigeria; everyone is aware of what the major pre-occupation of the Attorney-General of the Federation has always been.
�The study leave arrangement only confirms that the Yar�Adua administration is succeeding in its effort to kill the EFCC.
�Moreover, Nigerians must ponder on the coincidence with the trial and detention of Chief James Ibori, who is being accused of spending billions on Yar�Adua�s campaign.
�It is likely that some people have fears that if Ibori is to be compelled to refund donations made to the Yar�Adua�s campaign, the Presidency could be scarred beyond redemption.�
Musa said the move against Ribadu had discredited the anti-corruption crusade of the Federal Government.
He said, �The redeployment signalled the end of the anti-graft war in the country.�
The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, had, last Thursday, told newsmen that the EFCC boss must proceed on a one-year course of study at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.
The Commission Conference of Nigeria Political Parties chairman, however, insisted that contrary to the government�s claim, Ribadu�s redeployment was the first step towards his permanent removal from office.
He accused former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, of influencing his successor, President Umaru Yar�Adua, to axe the EFCC.
�It is not a temporary removal of Ribadu, it�s the permanent removal of the man as the EFCC chairman. He has now been reassigned to the NIPSS for a one-year full time training. So, there is no way he can function as chairman of EFCC.
�The action is a continuation of the discrediting of the anti-corruption campaign with the purpose of eventually abandoning the anti-corruption campaign completely.�
Musa recalled that this was not the first time the anti-corruption fight in Nigeria would be terminated by an unwilling government after the crusade had been discredited by the same administration that pretended to be promoting the war.
�Remember, Gen. Murtala Muhammed embarked on an anti-corruption campaign, which affected the leaders of the country. On the basis of credible allegations, they were investigated, found guilty in an administrative inquiry and their stolen property was seized.
�But after the death of Murtala, the anti-corruption campaign was abandoned and the stolen property seized from the thieves was returned to them and that was the end of the anti-corruption campaign.�
Musa, therefore, urged Nigerians to take their destiny in their own hands, expressing optimism that, �If or the third time the anti-corruption campaign is abandoned, there is a strong possibility that a fundamental change will take place for the purpose of pursuing the anti-corruption campaign because there is no way government can function with this level of corruption.�
Gbonigi said that he would support Ribadu�s nomination to proceed on course only if it was not a calculated attempt to deny the nation of the good work Ribadu was doing at the EFCC.
Gbonigi, who spoke in a separate telephone interview with our correspondent on Saturday, said the plan to send Ribadu on the one-year course at Kuru should not be borne out of malice.
He said that Ribadu had discharged his duties as the chairman of the anti-graft commission with passion and with the fear of God.
Gbonigi said, �I, personally believe that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has performed very well as the chairman of the EFCC. God has used him to fight corruption in Nigeria . He has performed his job excellently and courageously too and God will reward him for that.�
The cleric urged the press to dig into the real motive for nominating Ribadu to proceed on the course.
The Chairman, Transparency International, Nigeria, Gen. Ishola Williams (rtd), also said the role of the President in the whole drama could not be ruled out.
He said, �Nobody can remove Ribadu without the President. To me, the Attorney General is being used by the President. Let us tackle issues fundamentally in Nigeria instead of tackling it on the surface.
�We should have an Attorney General who would be a public defender; and as a public defender, he would be on the side of the EFCC and the ICPC. He would work in the interest of this country and not in the interest of an individual.
Nonetheless, he said what the country needed to do was to build institutions that could stand the test of time.
He said, �I think people are making too much noise about the whole thing. The EFCC is not Ribadu and Ribadu is not the EFCC. Ribadu is a government official, even more a policeman. If in his career he needed a course to advance in his career, is it not important?
�Many people believe that if he leaves the EFCC, nothing will happen to EFCC, sincerely within the scenario in which we are in now, I do not believe that.�
A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West, said Ribadu had become a sacrificial lamb in the power game that saw to the derailment of the anti-graft agency.
He said the removal of the EFCC boss was sad and was a bad omen for the anti-corruption crusade.
�At least nobody has faulted Ribadu over the cases involving the corrupt governors who were investigated and convicted. Therefore, by my assessment, he has done well.
�We have to differentiate between his genuine performances from his performance when Obasanjo began to teleguide him. At least three journals gave him �man of the year� award.
�Anybody who thinks firing him will give others yet to be tried freedom to go unpunished must be joking.
�I have said that Ribadu will end up as a sacrificial lamb the way he was going. Obasanjo was enjoying it because it was working according to his game plan.
�But, I must warn that if all the corrupt governors who are already on the firing line think removing Ribadu will shield them from prosecution, they must be living a fool�s paradise. They will have no place to rest or sit.
�In 2008, Nigeria should be very careful, because I see a lot of gloom in the horizon. I can see a lot of problems coming. The removal of Ribadu might quicken the gloom if we are not careful.
�Anybody believing that he can rubbish what Ribadu has set in motion will be swept away.�
Dec302007