Ribadu cannot be intimidated –Counsel

The former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu does not feel intimidated, in spite of the threats he has faced so far.

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RIBADU

Ribadu’s lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Uwais said this on Friday when he spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH on his client’s travails.

”He is very happy where he is. He is all right. He is not bothered at all. You only have fears when you know that you are guilty. Nuhu Ribadu has a clear conscience,” Uwais stated.

Ribadu had earlier approached the court for protection against the infringement of his fundamental human rights by the police authorities, but his lawyer said that there was no need any longer to sustain the matter.

“The former EFCC boss wants the suit withdrawn because the matter has been overtaken by events, in view of recent happenings. As everyone has seen, he did not take part in the (NIPSS) graduation ceremony, so every Nigerian can see that they have achieved their aim,” the lawyer stated.

Stressing that there was no substance in speculations that Ribadu did something improper with dud cheques kept at the EFCC headquarters during his tenure, Uwais added that his client was ready to visit EFCC again anytime his attention was required.

”If it is to clarify one or two issues that they do not understand, we are ready to go there again; going back to EFCC cannot be a problem.

“We went there last week and they were not there at the office; the chairman was not in, the head of operations was not there. If they want him to come to the EFCC headquarters within the next one hour, my client will be there,” Uwais added.

Pointing out that he could not say anything on Ribadu‘s problems with the police because the matter was in court, Uwais acknowledged that it would have been proper for the police to show interest in investigating the assassination attempt made against his client while travelling from Jos to Abuja recently.

”The police matter is going on, we have been told to file our written addresses and we have done that; the matter will come up in court next week. I would not want to say much on a matter that is in court. I do not want to prejudice the outcome.

”How can anyone know who was trying to kill him (Nuhu)? The police know their duty, he doesn’t need to ask before they should begin investigation into the shooting. The police ought to do what they should do,” Uwais said.

Meanwhile, the EFCC counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, said that Ribadu‘s decision to withdraw the matter from court last Friday was an indication ”that good sense is now prevailing.”

According to Keyamo, in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, the EFCC has not done anything wrong towards its former chairman.

He stressed that Ribadu should know that as a public officer, he could be summoned to render an account of his stewardship anytime after leaving office.

He expressed surprise that Ribadu only chose to visit the EFCC headquarters when some key personnel were not in.

”I do not know whether or not the matter of dud cheques have substance or not; that is not part of my brief. But from what I have read, he (Nuhu) went to the EFCC when nobody was aware that he was coming,” Keyamo said.

source: the punch news paper