Former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, has made a strong case for the immortalization of Bola Ige, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who was murdered by yet unidentified gunmen at his Ibadan residence on Sunday, December 23, 2001.

Ribadu, who was the guest lecturer at the 80th commemorative birthday held in honour of the slain first governor of the old Western Region, expressed shock that neither of the governments at the federal and Oyo State level has done anything to appreciate the quality of selfless service Mr Ige rendered to them when he was alive.

He also used the occasion to call on the federal government to overhaul the law enforcement agencies and the judicial system, in order to realize the dreams of the founding fathers of our country in good time.

Mr Ribadu said that Nigeria's founders did not only dream well for our country, but that they also made efforts to lay enviable foundations for its sustenance.

While assessing the impact of Obafemi Awolowo, the former premier of the old Western Region, and his followers, on the region, Ribadu said if the late sage was given the chance to lay a good foundation for the country, its history would be different from what it is today.

He, however, expressed hope that a time will come when every Nigerian will be happy to be associated with it and be ready and willing to die for it.

Cleaning up the police

On the need to clean the Nigerian Police, Ribadu said Nigeria does not need more than 5,000 policemen to effective combat its prevailing crime rate, arguing that the police has not been effective despite its population and the amount spent on it because of corruption that has eaten deep into its fabric.

"Imagine how much money we spend on the judiciary and law enforcement and see the output we get in return," Ribadu stated.

He also traced the failure of the police to the inability of the country to fish out the killer of its chief legal officer nine years after the incident, saying the prosecutor failed to get enough evidence at the scene.

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In 1999 I watched Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on NTA tell the world how Uncle Bola Ige saved his life. He said that Uncle Bola was the one who told him through his physician while he was incarcerated by Abacha for plotting to overthrow his government what he heard through intelligence agents. Uncle Bola told Obasanjo that he should not allow anyone inject him under any guise. Obasanjo said that when the physician-agent of death came to draw his blood he rebuffed him. When I heard about Uncle Bola's death while serving in Obasanjo's government as his No. 1 Law Officer in the land and the lackadaisical attitude of Obasanjo towards fishing out his killers almost bordering on acquiescence to his fate I shed tears. Uncle Bola's spirit is resting in peace in the bosom of the Lord. Uncle will be laughing today in heaven while waiting for OBJ when he eventually arrives at the opposite end of heaven. OBJ will be gnashing his teeth, taking stock of his misdeeds on earth and asking God for a second chance, but then it would be too late. Cicero, continue to rest in the Lord. They can kill the body but they cannot kill the soul. Till we all meet. Good night.

When I heard about Uncle Bola's death while serving in Obasanjo's government as his No. 1 Law Officer in the land

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