Nigerian anti –Corruption chief dismissed
By agencies
ABUJA, Nigeria - Nigerian government has finally sacked the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, from the Nigeria Police Force, government has announced.
Mr Ribadu was removed from his position in December 2007 by Police Service Commission after the EFCC arrested and indicted a powerful politician who was known to be a close ally to the president on corruption charges.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Lame made the announcement during his visit to the Louis Edet House police headquarters in Abuja yesterday, saying Mr Ribadu's case is a disciplinary issue that has been properly tackled by the police authorities.
"We cannot afford to allow anybody, no matter how highly placed that individual is, to destabilize the discipline of this place. I want to assure you that this government takes the issue of discipline very seriously," he said.
However, Mr Ribadu is reported to be challenging his dismissal and demotion in court, which he believes were politically motivated.
Dr Lame said government scowls at police alleged corrupt practices to serve individuals in communities, saying the unprofessional attitude of the police has to stop, if the service is to reform.
"It is quite disgraceful to see police officers performing demeaning jobs for their principals. This has gone a long way to debase the professional values and ethics of the police. It also undermines discipline in the police, as the loyalty of these officers now lie with their principals rather than the police," he said.
Mr Ribadu's lawyer, Charles Musa, has however said the matter would be decided by the court.
"The case is in court. And we are hopeful that justice will be done in the case. We believe that the demotion/dismissal will be set aside," he said.
In December, Human Rights Watch called for better protection of the former anti graft chief, Mr Ribadu, after receiving a series of threats made against his life. Mr Ribadu said he feared for his life after receiving threats including shots fired at him in late September, which he believed were linked to his work at the graft agency.
Nigeria is ranked among the world's most-corrupt countries according to Corruption Perception Index. Many politicians are reported to have used stolen government revenues to sponsor political violence in order to rig elections and fuel violence in the past years.