THE police authorities have started mounting surveillance on the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as part of measures aimed at preventing his possible exit from Nigeria.
Top police sources told newsmen that the authorities were bent on preventing him from leaving the country for fear of what he might say abroad.
Ribadu, was on the verge of bagging a United Nations appointment, a fact said to have been known to top security operatives in the country.
It was learnt further that the plan by the police to try Ribadu and possibly ensure his prosecution on the allegations levelled against him was part of reasons the authorities wanted to track him down at all costs.
Further details on the issue made available to newsmen indicated that the former EFCC boss was in possession of sensitive information about the government, and hence, the fear in government circles that he could spill the beans once he had escaped out of Nigeria.
The Nigeria Police had last week dismissed Ribadu from service, accusing him of lack of respect for constituted authority, dereliction of duty and gross insubordination.
The travails of the former EFCC boss began early in the year when he was asked to proceed on compulsory study session at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies at Kuru in Plateau State.
Not long after, the police authorities announced his demotion from the post of Assistant Inspector General of Police and asked him to proceed to Edo State to serve as a Deputy Commissioner of Police, a posting he declined.
On the day of his graduation at NIPPS, Ribadu was abruptly forced to leave the graduation ceremony. Even after being kicked out of service last week, the police authorities had gone ahead to finally expunge his name from the list of police officers in Nigeria, an indication that his record in service had finally been erased.
Also, the police have faulted those celebrating Ribadu, saying he was not qualify to be treated like a hero. Arguing that the dismissal of Ribadu had nothing to do with sentiments, the police insisted the former EFCC boss was actually sent packing in line with the regulations governing service in the force.
The position of the police authorities was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu.