RIBADU: TSAV ANGRY WITH JONATHAN
Sequel to the decision of the Federal Government to quash the charges preferred against the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, has said that the decision was discriminatory, ill-advised and capable of heightening violent crimes in Nigeria.
In a text message to Daily Sun, Tsav noted that the decision by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan was to use Ribadu to save some persons or prosecute them the way former president Olusegun Obasanjo did while in office.
Tsav, who lent credence to a statement credited to Lagos lawyer, Mr Festus Keyamo in the media that the Federal Government's decision was ill advised, said, 'I totally agree with Mr Festus Keyamo that the decision of the Federal Government to withdraw charges of corruption against Nuhu Ribadu was ill advised and will lay a dangerous precedence that some Nigerians are above the law.
'The avowed war against corruption becomes rubbish and mere deceit. It will amount to aiding and abetting corruption rather than fighting corruption. Nuhu Ribadu is alleged to have bought a house for N200 million. Where did he get the money from? Nigeria is a funny country where application of justice is discriminatory. This act of discriminatory justice will only heighten violent crimes in the country and make the job of the police very difficult. If, indeed, Ribadu believes he did not corruptly acquire his wealth, why not appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to defend himself? That is the only reasonable thing a government, which cherishes honesty and justice, should have ordered. This is a direct fight against Yar'Adua and I am sure that Jonathan wants to use Ribadu as Obasanjo did, to save some people or persecute them.
'If Jonathan is honest and sincere, why not extend the same goodwill to Al-Mustapha and others who have been in prison custody for 11 years for attempted murder?' Tsav asked.
While noting that the former anti-corruption czar had many questions bordering on corruption to answer in the Commission, Tsav said Ribadu should be arrested as soon as he arrived the country. According to Tsav, 'if I were the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, I would pick him up as soon as he steps into the country to clear the rubbish he created and left in the Commission.
Meanwhile, former minister for information, Prince Tony Momoh, has said that the Federal Government's decision to have Ribadu's charges quashed was not a strange thing, adding that the decision was political.
Speaking with Daily Sun, the Yerima of Auchi Kingdom said, 'It is a political decision. Every decision taken by the Federal Government is a political decision. Any action filed, especially of a criminal nature, is a political decision. The attorney-general can initiate any action at anytime; he can stop the action and continue it and can withdraw it at anytime. So, it is within the power of the Federal Government to do what they have done and there is no big deal about it. It is routine,' he said.
It would be recalled that the Code of Conduct Tribunal headed by Justice Constance Momoh, had demanded for the extradition of the erstwhile chairman of the EFCC who has been in exile from Nigeria following allegation of a intimidation and his controversial sack from the Nigeria Police Service for his refusal to appear before the commission on issues bordering on assets declaration and corruption.