A former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, on Saturday joined other prominent Nigerians to urge President Umaru Yar�Adua to halt the speculated removal of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu.
Clark said the removal of Ribadu was not only unacceptable to Nigerians but would send a wrong signal to the international community on the commitment of the present administration to fighting corruption.
He said the action was untimely and ill-advised, alleging that the Federal Government was being manipulated by the former governors who were being probed by the EFCC for corrupt practices.
Clark alleged that the supporters of the former governors had boasted that Ribadu would be removed for humiliating their mentors.
The Ijaw Leader spoke in an exclusive interview with our correspondent at his country home in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
Clark said, �The decision of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, to send Ribadu on a one- year course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru near Jos, came to Nigerians as a surprise.�
He added that Okiro lacked the power to either redeploy or fire the anti-corruption czar.
Although Clark admitted that Ribadu was a serving police officer, he said that he was appointed under the EFCC law by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
He said, �This is a wrong time for this action and Nigerians will read meanings into it. The President should suspend this action. Nigerians are not happy about it, we are with the people and they are now saying that the action is designed to reduce the crusade against corruption, which should not be the case.
�The President and the IG should listen to the voice of Nigerians, majority of them believe that it is a wrong time to remove Ribadu, who is serving a second term. When the second term expires, he can go to NIPSS.
�As far as we are concerned, we from Delta State are satisfied with the performance of Ribadu, especially his courage to prosecute former governors and we have heard their supporters boasting that Ribadu was going to go. If Ribadu goes now, it shows that something is wrong somewhere.�
Meanwhile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Adeniyi Akintola, on Sunday said that Ribadu�s planned removal was a ploy to stifle the anti-corruption war.
In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, he said it would be a great disservice to the country on the part of President Yar�Adua to slow down the pace of work at the EFCC.
He described the EFCC boss as a young man with vision and vigour to rid the country of corruption, but who was prevented from going the whole way.
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