Ribadu throws police panel into confusion

There are indications that the members of the Police Disciplinary Committee set up to try the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, are confused about how to handle his case.

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former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu

Ribadu’s refusal to appear at the panel’s sitting in Kaduna on Thursday over sundry issues of indiscipline and misconduct had thrown its members into confusion. A source close to the committee disclosed to our correspondent that since Ribadu had gone to court to challenge its legality, it would be unfair to decide on the matter without waiting for the court to rule on Ribadu’s prayers. The source said that given the fact that many members of the panel, including the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, are lawyers, it would be out of place for them to ignore the court case and make recommendations on the matter.

At the panel’s sitting on Thursday were DIGs Ogbona Onovo, Adedayo Adeoye, John Ahmadu, Gadzali Lawal, Haruna Yusuf and AIG Udom Ekpuodum, while DIG Uba Ringim was said to be absent as he was currently in Mecca for the hajj. Members of the panel, it was gathered, were, however, not in agreement with this line of reasoning, as some of them were said to have argued that if a retired assistant inspector-general of police could heed its summon, then there was no reason for Ribadu to ignore the panel. The source said that when the letter written by Ribadu’s lawyer was read at the meeting, members took time to debate its merit.

The source said, “It was a meeting where everybody in the panel did not agree or disagree. Many of us believe that it would not be proper for Ribadu to appear as his lawyer rightly said because he is still contesting the legality of this panel. He believes that it is only the Police Service Commission that has the powers to discipline him, being a senior police officer. That is contestable anyway because an AIG was also before us.

“Also, some of us do not want a situation whereby we would be accused of witch-hunting even though it is purely a service matter. But because of the interest it has generated in the country, we felt that it must be handled with utmost care.” Asked if the panel would still go ahead to recommend punishment for Ribadu, the source said a final decision would be taken next week during the writing of its report in Abuja.

As at Friday, Ribadu had not resumed at the Nigeria Police Zone 5 headquarters, Benin, Edo State where he had been posted to as a deputy commissioner of police in charge of administration. The zone’s spokesman, Mr. Ebi Orubiri, told our correspondent on the telephone that Ribadu, who was supposed to have reported for duty two weeks ago, was yet to do so. He said there was no explanation for his absence but that the zone hoped that he would still resume.

He said Ribadu’s non-resumption could only be addressed by the IG.