Ribadu filed December 2008, the “absence” of which had led to its declaring the former chairman of the EFCC “wanted and a fugitive of the law” on 20 November. 

Justice Constance Momoh, leading the Tribunal, said had she known the copies were available from the beginning she would have struck out the charges against Ribadu, and that she would do so once Ribadu presents himself before the Tribunal.   

Two months earlier, on September 25, Mr. Femi Falana, counsel to Mr. Ribadu, had written to the Code of Conduct Bureau requesting certified true copies of the asset declaration forms, but until today, there had been no response.

The lead judge told counsel to Nuhu Ribadu that she was surprised that the case had dragged on until now since it is clear that Ribadu did file his assets declaration forms in 2003 and 2008 in accordance with the law.
This morning’s court session heard arguments from the lawyer to the Federal Government, who told the Tribunal that the Ministry of Justice and the police had not succeeded in executing the warrant of arrest issued on Ribadu by the Tribunal at its last sitting.  He therefore sought an indefinite adjournment of the case until the warrant of arrest could be executed.

That request irked human rights activist Mr. Falana, who stood up and explained to the Tribunal that he couldn’t make the last hearing of the court because he had to travel to Spain in solidarity with the Sahrawi activists whose rights are being violated by the government of Morocco with the tacit support of Spanish authorities.

He then expressed dismay that the Tribunal had declared his client “wanted’ when it had not addressed the issues surrounding his safety. He brought the Tribunal’s attention to the recent memo issued by rogue elements in the Federal Government ordering Nigerian Consulates not to issue or renew passports to his client as part of the desperation of elements within the government to hurt his client.

He further he drew the attention of the Tribunal to the refusal of the Code of Conduct Bureau to avail his client of copies of his assets declaration forms that were needed to defend himself before the Tribunal.
It was at that point that Justice Momoh told Falana that she had a copy of the 2008 declaration by Mr. Ribadu, but not the 2003 forms.  Expressing dismay, Mr. Falana replied that it was a well-known fact that Ribadu could not have become the chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) in 2003 without a valid assets declaration form, since the Nigerian Senate required it to approve of his appointment when made by the president.
 
He informed the judge that he was in possession of a copy of the 2003 declaration, asking for permission to approach the bench and share with the court.  Justice Momoh did not object. In fact, she expressed dismay that the prosecutor did not have any copies of the document. She volunteered the 2008 copies in her possession to Falana and permitted him to make copies.
The Tribunal adjourned the case till January 7, 2010, after Falana made a final submission that Ribadu’s case does not meet extradition thresholds.


http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4440:ribadu-declared-his-assets-in-2003-and-2008-code-of-conduct-tribunal-admits&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

Justice Constance Momoh is shameless.

She should be fining the plaintiff for wasting the time of the tribunal and throwing out the case than insisting on Ribadu's arrest.

How does a court continue to sustain an arrest warrant even after it has realised the accused is innocent.

How does a court realise that it is sitting on a false premise and still demand that the accused appear before the court even when it has been argued Nationwide that the major target of Constance Momoh is to lure Ribadu back home so that he can get killed.

Nigeria is truly a Bannana Republic.

Justice Constance Momoh should tender an unreserved apology to Ribadu.

na today? she can continue to wait for Ribadu.

@mikeansy

So that will kill him that is why they want him to come to Nigeria

@ Atleast this will convince those Anti - ribadu , that there is ulterior motives for this court case against ribadu, Nobody is saying Ribadu is a saint, but for someone to have held such a position for years and the only allegation against him is none declaration of asset in corruption infested nigeria,

you never stand against the truth and win, never!
can u hear that sound?
>>>>>Ribadu for president!! Ribadu for president!!

they cant get ribadu, the man is just putting finish touched to his security network before he finally come home

Ribadu himself once said, if you fight corruption, corruption will fight back. This is a case of corruption fighting back.

The question I want to ask now is, what is Ribadu's sin? Why have they declared an arrest warrant on him? And why is the code of conduct beareau still insisting on his returning to Nigeria?

One more question,

What sort of a country are we living in

jimmysho:

they cant get ribadu, the man is just putting finish touched to his security network before he finally come home

very true

proudly9ja:

Ribadu himself once said, if you fight corruption, corruption will fight back. This is a case of corruption fighting back.

The question I want to ask now is, what is Ribadu's sin? Why have they declared an arrest warrant on him? And why is the code of conduct beareau still insisting on his returning to Nigeria?

Pls ask justice Momoh ooooo.she wants Ribadu killed by force.Let them tell us wat Ribadu's sins are

proudly9ja:

One more question,

What sort of a country are we living in

@^^^ i tot of this 1 nyt n a voice said to me that "It's going to take more than 1000 Nyts" , I am still thinking of this n my mind stillblank presently