Nuhu Ribadu Is Human

Nuhu Ribadu Is Human, After all

Kirikenibo Iwaribo

Nigeria’s anti-corruption Czar, Barrister Nuhu Ribadu, is a man most Nigerians admire, not least, for his principled stand in the fight against corruption, which everyone agrees is the greatest obstacle to Nigeria’s efforts at attaining sustainable economic development. A law graduate of one of Nigeria’s premier universities, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Ribadu underwent 18 months of police training and quietly performed his duties at Alagbon Close, Ikoyi for 11 years in his typically unassuming manner. His rise to fame coincided with his appointment as Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Limitation of time and space will not permit of an exhaustive account of his string of successes as helmsman of the EFCC. Just two examples would suffice.

In 2006, Ribadu bursted and successfully prosecuted a coterie of criminally minded Nigerians in what could, perhaps, be described in recent times as the world’ biggest advance fee fraud case, involving the sum of USD 242m from a Brazilian bank. On 26^th September, 2005, an 86-year-old woman, Juliana Ching, was presented a cheque of USD 4.5m in Hong Kong, as part of recovered funds from a fictitious transaction initiated by one Basil Nkenchor, a Nigerian, purporting to be Alhaji Ibrahim Abba, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), sometime in June, 1995 through the indefatigable and uncompromising efforts of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and his Commission, the EFCC.

To be sure, the distinction between the EFCC and Police is a distinction without a difference. What stand the EFCC out in this fight against corruption are the single mindedness, resoluteness, strong will and determination of its Executive Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu to bring all culprits to justice, or to take justice to the culprits as the case may be. For what is perceived, rightly or wrongly or as honest pursuit against criminals whether in political or economic garbs, the EFCC enjoys unparalleled collaborative assistance from international law enforcement agencies and institutions from both the U.S. and Europe. Many thanks to! Nuhu Ribadu!

Against this backdrop, it is not surprising why the average Nigerian thinks Nuhu Ribadu is either not a Nigerian or one with extraordinary instincts, motivations and abilities, perhaps, a superman or spirit with an unbending resolve for justice. Yet his latest theoretical outburst in favour of Wolfowitz the President of the World Bank reveals that Nihu Ribadu is, indeed, human after all. In an article published in the New York Times, 1^st May 2007, the Chairman of Nigeria’s foremost anticorruption agency, Nuhu Ribadu, argues vehemently for Wolfowitz to continue in his job as President of the World Bank despite overwhelming and justifiable criticisms as well as calls for his resignation from both within and outside the U.S., especially across Europe.

That Nuhu Ribadu chose to take sides with Wolfowitz’s corrupt practice of unilaterally inflating the salary and allowances of his girl friend at the World Bank, whom he transferred to the State Department, speaks eloquently about his jaundiced conception and perspective to corruption. Is it any wonder that many in Nigeria have questioned Ribadu’s honesty of purpose as well as sincerity in the fight against corruption? Is it any wonder why many think that the fight against corruption in Nigeria has been by and large selective, or why others think he is simply doing the job of a hatch! et man for his boss in Aso Rock?

To be sure, no one blames Wolfowitz for having a girl friend, or as it turned out for such a girl to be working in the same bank. However, to avoid possible conflict of interests she had to be transferred to the State department, while continuing to draw on her salary from the World Bank. Again, no one questions the propriety of these arrangements. If Wolfowitz had stopped at that, this issue would not have become international public knowledge, but he went further. He unilaterally approved a salary increase well beyond that of her boss in the State Department, the U.S. Secretary of State and, without the approval of the Board of the World Bank. Now, if Nuhu Ribadu wants us to believe that this is not corruption, then what is? If Nuhu agrees that this is corruption, but that it must be overlooked because Wolfowitz has been exceptionally good to Africa in general and Nigeria in particular, then it calls to question his sense of propriety or justice even in the Agency he heads. Clearly, Nuhu could allow a criminal go free if it can be shown that such a person stole for the ‘public good’, is a ‘friend’ of Africa or the President.

In my very little and inconspicuous corner of the world, I had always admired the courage of Nihu Ribadu in the manner he prosecuted Tafa Balogun, his boss at the time in the Nigerian Police. I had admired the manner in which he had spoken out against corruption, ‘without fear or favour’ and castigated past Nigerian leaders for plunging the country into the current mess in which we find ourselves. I had admired the manner in which he stopped some thieving Governors from aspiring to higher political offices in the land and tackled corrupt politicians even in the ruling party, the PDP. Even at that, many have for good reasons questioned his sincerity and honesty of purpose given that some of our thieving ! Governors and Party big wigs are still bestriding the land like Colossuses, unashamedly and with no regard whatsoever to the wishes of the vast majority of honest and hard working Nigerians. Such a man in my humble view could only best channel his energies in reforming our archaic and unrepentantly corrupt Police Force, if at all. Yet, with his recent unguarded utterances in favour of Wolfowitz’ continuation as President of the World Bank, the World’s financial institution, I am beginning, quite frankly, to have my doubts if, indeed, Nuhu Ribadu is the person we all thought him to be in the first place.