Nuhu
Ribadu: A True Defender of The Rule of Law
By
Paul I.
Adujie
Lawcareer2007@aol.com
New York, United States
Neither pain,
intimidation nor death threats will derail the EFCC he said. Our fight
against corruption is a worthy fight. It is total. It is imbued with
national, continental and global implications. Winning the war against
corruption is of substantive significance. Winning the war against
corruption will determine Nigeria’s place in the world says Nuhu Ribadu
Mallam Ribadu in his very specific and pristine manner, outlined the
role rich and corrupt Nigerian citizens are presently playing in
maligning the EFCC corruption fight efforts. He pointed to how the news
media in Nigeria is controlled and used by the corrupt who he described
as a tiny cabal, with a vice grip on Nigeria’s national affairs and
Nigeria’s wealth.
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC is the real champion in Nigeria for the rule law and
due process. Mallam Ribadu is a passionate and dedicated Nigerian public
servant. He continues serve Nigeria with all his wisdom, strength and
positive fervor, despite threats and great risks to his life and the
lives of those EFCC employees, EFCC employees who are doing the
heavy-lifting on behalf of all Nigerians.
This Assistant Inspector General of Police, Nuhu Ribadu, is a gem, a
courageous man with so much grace under barrages of intense fire and
brimstones!
The EFCC chairperson repeated his avowals again recently, his avowal,
to defend Nigerians and Nigeria, against corruption. His passionate
commitment to the total annihilation and elimination of corruption from
Nigeria. In his comments made in New York, United States, at a one day
seminar on the war against corruption. Ribadu’s dedication is absolute
and it always shines through, it is a commitment that is total.
Mallam Ribadu is clearly the true champion of the rule of law and due
process. The ideals, the true tenets, meaning and implications, put in
proper contexts. Nuhu Ribadu and the EFCC have been the ones reminding
Nigerians that no one is above the law. The EFCC chairperson has been
the one, reminding Nigerians and everyone else, to abide by and obey the
laws of Nigeria; from constitution of Nigeria to local regulations.
He has been
the one, letting the corrupt amongst us, know that they are not above
the laws of Nigeria. And that no one is above the law
During these past several years, the EFCC chairperson has sought to
implement and follow the rule of law and due process, by putting the
feet of he corrupt to the fire; By visiting corrupt persons with
penalties, punishments and consequences for their illegalities,
regardless of their prominence and high profile statuses.
He has brought down a corrupt Inspector General of Police Mr. Tafa
Balogun, Mr. DSP Alamieseigha and several state governors, despite their
corruptly acquired wealth, false prominence and clouts. The high and
mighty, have paid stiff price and very dearly. It is the expectation
that the train has left the station, the train that will eventually take
many more corrupt officials to the jails they rightfully belong. It
might take a bit more time, but, surely, the time will come for Mr. Orji
Uzor Kalu, Mr. James Onanefe Ibori, Mr. Joshua Chibi Dariye and many
others.
At a recent seminar, there were copious references to purchases there
were made and some, still be made by corrupt pubic officials. He
mentioned specific items as boats, planes and houses, as specific
reference items on which corrupt politicians squander looted public
money. He described how many of these corrupt Nigerians pay for homes in
America and Europe and pay cash down and pay in full, a feat no American
can accomplish, unless they are winners of a lottery jackpot. In America
and Europe, houses are usually purchased and paid for by installments,
frequently over an extended period of thirty years and sometimes, more
years!
Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, a vice president at the World Bank, was among
the panelist at the corruption war seminar. She made a concise
presentation in which she averted the minds of all present to the major
distraction and derailment which is caused by the corruption phenomenon
in Nigeria
In very precise manner, she demonstrated to the audience’s delight, just
how money budgeted for infrastructure are diverted. This diversions of
money budgeted and targeted toward specific challenges, invariably lead
to direct negative consequences such as bad roads, electricity or power
failures and the near complete collapse of educational institutions,
institutions that were hitherto, pride of our nation
Dr.
Ezekwesili’s presentation was so well received, that the moderator,
after the applauses, commented that Dr. Ezekwesili may have been taken
away from Nigeria to the World Bank, but that Nigeria could never be
taken out of her!
In recent times, there have been an upsurge of efforts, by certain
persons who are attempting to rewrite recent Nigerian history of public
events. These revisionists seem have literarily turned good logic in
public debate on its head. Some people certainly are, by insisting and
pretending that the only way to interpret compliance with the rule of
law and due process, is to allow high profile and prominent citizens,
public officials, who are looting public treasuries, is to set them
free. Set them free, despite incontrovertible evidence of corruption
against them. Why must Nigerians, in good conscience, let these looters
go unpunished?
In June 2003, we wrote Adherence To The Rule Of Law And Due Process As
Nigeria Advances and it was published; well before recent revisionism.
Revisionism, started by shameless revisionists with their attempts to
pull wool over the eyes of poor Nigerians. These futile attempts to
shield brazen criminals, criminals, who have pillaged and plundered
Nigeria of public resources. It is now common, to witness rote
recitations and regurgitations of the rule of law and due process as
mere cover and cloak for looters and common criminals who paraded
themselves as public officials in our land!
We wrote
Consequential Thinking as well as Certainty of Rewards and Punishments
Well before some duplicitous supporters of looters started preaching
the rule of law some of us and the EFCC were already saying, No Need to
Apologize No One is Above The Law
Discerning Nigerians, know, as a matter of fact, the height of ignominy
and extreme depravity in which public officials have engaged, for many
years, and at great expense to all Nigerians. The desire, the burning
desire, by the average Nigerian, I suppose, as far as these public
officials are concerned, is to crush them with their revisionists liars.
That would be a true justice. Nigerians and Nigeria have been deprived
of billions of dollars in infrastructure and service, so deprived for
years, it is estimated to be 400 billion dollars or more. Nigerians will
be justified therefore, that they seek a pint of blood in legal
penalties, for looters and the corrupt. Killers of our national dreams,
all of them.
It seems in vogue these days, for these revisionists to engage in
confounding obfuscation and confusion of the issues with their hypocrisy
or false preachments of the rule of law and due process. Before these
sing-song about the rule of law and due process came to be, there have
been the brazen criminals who shredded our constitution and broke every
laws and rules with impunity. Nigerians citizens now want penalties and
consequences to be visited upon the pillagers and plunderers, who had
established impunity and glorified it
There will be vindications for all Nigerians, as we must take solace in
the efforts of the EFCC, the ICPC and others, who continue to work
tirelessly, in spite of the stiff opposition and resistance armies; the
opposition that have been raised by the gluttony and greed of these
corrupt public officials and their friends-sympathizers!
It is saddening to see these revisionists and sundry pretenders, who now
seek to lectures us all, about the rule law and due process. It would
appear that the priestly behaviors of Mr. Alamieseigha, Mr. Dariye, Mr.
Kalu and Mr. Ibori, were what led them to have money and assets found
with them, confiscated by Britain and elsewhere. Are these defenders of
looters, now telling the world that Britain does not adhere to due
process and the rule of law? Or is it simply the case that looters are
finally being made to account for their criminal conducts in Nigeria and
overseas!
Nigerians should support the EFCC. It is clear that the EFCC is
unflinching, unwavering and unrelenting in its vehement war against
corruption. Nigerians must stop vacillating about this fight against
corruption and corrupt persons. We all must support the EFCC’s worthy
cause. We must support, encourage and give credit to the EFCC for
achievements and accomplishments! Our actions will determine the
development, advancements and greatness of Nigeria
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