Dede, your comment is wholly erroneous and inappropriate. Ribadu recovered over $5.5 billion in his over 5 years at the helm of EFCC. If Okiro despite the menace of armed robbery in Nigeria can be given a double promotion, why not Ribadu?

I think OBJ, despite his unpopularity and dictatorial trait still had a vision for Nigeria. At least, he was his own man and could not be bullied. He appointed his own cabinet which included notable names like Iwuala, Ekwezeli, Soludo, Ribadu etc.
I was never a fan of OBJ but Yaradua is frightening me. He is intent on setting us 20 years back.

FG won’t abandon Ibori’s trial – AGF

Despite the reprieve that came the way of the former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, from London on Thursday, the Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, has said that his trial will continue in Nigeria

He said that the dismissal of the Metropolitan Police evidence against Ibori by the Court of Appeal in London was to protect the sovereignty of Nigeria. The AGF, who spoke with newsmen in his office on Friday, said the Federal Government had no intention of protecting any corrupt person.

He said the Met Police evidence and the trial were an abuse of Nigeria’s bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom, adding that his office would still ask for the evidence with a view to studying it.

He did not say if his office would give the needed approval for the evidence to be returned to London so as to retry the former governor. He said that the agreement with the UK was to forestall a situation whereby evidence would be collected from a person under duress, noting that it was wrong to try an accused person twice in different places.

He said, “We have no intention to protect any corrupt person in the country. The case against James Ibori will run its natural course in the court. We protested against what the Met Police did not because it was Ibori but it was against the sovereignty of the country. We have to look at the treaty, which says that such evidence must have the permission of the government; as not doing that could lead to anarchy. Several people could just come here and take evidence and use it to prosecute people anyhow.

“In that case, the sovereignty of Nigeria is at stake and I am happy the judges in London agreed that you don’t just enter into another country and bring evidence against an accused person without the authority of the government in that country.”

Muza and crea8tivity, you can now see how strongly corruption is fighting back. Crea8tivity, you have been very unfair to Mallam Ribadu who tried his very best to confront this cancer in our society. You kept accusing him of not following the rule of law.
Do you prefer the current outcome, where moneybags have infiltrated and corrupted our judiciary. You must really be naive to think you can successfully prosecute a war on corruption through the courts.
Goodbye to good governance in Nigeria. You and I including our children will continue to live in the 4th world.

Punch Newspaper. Saturday December 20.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna on Friday ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had no powers to prosecute the former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, at the Federal High Court, Kaduna.

The Appeal Court also said that the EFCC could not try an accused person outside the jurisdiction where alleged offences were committed, stressing that such an action was tantamount to persecution rather than the prosecution of an accused person. Delivering a unanimous judgment in an appeal brought by Ibori against his trial at the Federal High Court, Kaduna, located about 700 kilometers away from Delta State where the alleged offences were committed, the appellate court said the EFCC erred by prosecuting the former governor in Kaduna instead of a court of proximate jurisdiction.

Justice Amina Adamu-Augie of the appeal court therefore ruled that Ibori‘s matter should be sent back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to a court of competent jurisdiction. Ibori’s lead counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, had appealed against the trial of his client before Justice Mohammed Lawal Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kaduna.

Daudu had argued that the case be transferred to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to a court of competent jurisdiction as the trial of Ibori in Kaduna amounted to “forum shopping.” Ibori’s lawyer had further argued that the trial of the former Delta governor in Kaduna amounted to persecution. He had argued that it was not convenient for the former governor to transport over 200 witnesses and tonnes of classified documents belonging to Delta State to the Federal High Court, Kaduna.

But counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs had opposed Daudu, arguing that the Federal High Court had jurisdiction to try any case committed against the Federal Government in any part of the country. Arguing further, Jacobs cited the trial of the late Chief Moshood Abiola for treason in Abuja instead of Lagos where he allegedly committed the offence as a precedent.

But having reviewed the submissions of both the prosecution and defence counsel, the justice dismissed the EFCC’s position. She said that Abiola was tried for treason, which was a crime against the nation, while Ibori’s case was a criminal matter, which should be tried at the nearest Federal High Court.

She wondered why the EFCC should investigate, prosecute and at the same time search for a judge of its choice. The appeal court said there would not have been any need to set up judicial divisions if accused persons could be taken to any judge of the Federal High Court for trial. She wondered why the EFCC bypassed the Benin and Abuja judicial divisions of the court and took the matter to Kaduna.

On allegations of the likelihood of bias, which the lower court dismissed as a non-issue, the appeal court said the judge of the lower court missed the point. She said that favouritism did not imply only bribery or that someone had compromised himself. She further faulted the lower court for giving Ibori only two weeks to prepare his case and appear in court after he had spent about two months in detention, without taking into consideration the distance between Delta and Kaduna states.

In his verdict, Justice Moshood Abdulrahman Oredola supported Adamu-Augie, saying that there was no reason why an accused person should be tried hundreds of kilometres outside the court’s jurisdiction. He said, “The fact that there is only one Federal High Court does not mean that you can uproot an accused person from any where and plant him wherever you want. You cannot take an accused person from Lagos to Gashua (Yobe State) for trial. It is not fair for EFCC to pick, choose and determine which court should try its matter. An accused person should be tried in a place close to his house. Prosecution can not be turned to persecution or denial of fundamental rights. The ruling of the lower court of March 3, 2008 is hereby set aside.”

Although Justice Abdulkadir Jega was absent from court during the judgment, Adamu-Augie said he was in support.

[

Ilebola,
I really don't know why you keep claiming Ribadu did not achieve anything. It is on record that a week ago, Madam waziri acknowledged that over $5.5 billion was recovered under the stewardship of Ribadu.
A war on corruption needs maximum publicity in the press. You cannot arrest every corrupt politician, but, at least, it creates fear In mind of potential looters.

Dapo, i know a lot of people are showering praises on you for comming to make your case on nairaland, but all your answers have been vague and non specific.
I have left UI when you were a student, but i still had your exploits. You have compared covertly yourself to Obama, but i think this is wishful thinking.
Obama after leaving harvard could have gone to make millions in wall street, but he chose to return to the street of chicago as community organiser. While your dad wa sin power, you were busy riding very expensive cars and partying. What did you do to help your coursemates or other less fortunates individuals when your Dad was the Governor?
Let us assume you were a teenager and now a matured man.

a) What are you bringing to the house of represenatatives? What new bills do you intend to sponsor?
b) What is your view on the effectiveness of current EFCC and Ribadu's travails?
c) What do you intend to do about the FOI bill currently languishing in the house?
d) We need more transparency from you. Give us a few of the names of your Dad's friend who gave you money and gifts.
e) what is your view on the fact that a nigerian house of reps member earns more than his colleague in the American house of reps.

I guess, we have all begun to miss Ribadu. Unfortunately, he is gone for good and our suffering is just starting. Those of you that have so much faith in AGF's rule of law, i hope, we are now all seeing the result.

The truth is that no nigerian court has successfully convicted anyone of corruption in Nigeria. Not only are the judges corruptible, the cases take decades to conclude, so, it doesn't deter anyone from continuing to loot.
Ribadu was able to recover over $5.5 billion by taking tough and decisive action.

I am glad people are already beginning to miss Ribadu. We are just begun to create a class of oligarchs who are bent on sharing our commonwealth among their clique. The purpose of an anti-corruption battle is to bring home the consequences for looting our collective wealth. Ribadu could not have arrested everyone involved in corruption, otherwise, 90% of nigerians would be in jail. What he needed to do was to create an atmosphere where office holders would think twice before stealing.
Ribadu may have been selective, but at least, he was very committed and dedicated to his job. We have to understand the very difficult circumsatnces he operated under. He still managed to acheive results. Can you imagine what he could have done if working in a country where he is supported by the government machinery.

Muza you are talking as if you don't know the reason Ribadu was demoted by his employers and transferred to Edo state, at Ibori's backyard. If Okiro can bi given double promotion despite presiding over menace of armed robbery in Nigeria, why not Ribadu who recovered over $5.5 billion from our politicians?

We have to remember, there are also other agencies responsible for fighting corruption in nigeria ie. Police, ICPC. What is their record compared to Ribadu's.

Crea8tivity keeps hammering on obeying rules. I really don't know if you live in Nigeria. Veryone knows our judiciary is not as matured as what obtains in the western world. The sad reality is that teh endemic corruption in Nigeria has robbed off on everything including the judiciary. We have jsut seen how lucky Igbinedion has been asked to refund 3.3 million naira after stealing over 5 billion naira. Odili was able to get a "perpetual injunction" which grants him lifelong immunity, even after death. We all witnessed how the appeal court upheld several rigged elections in various states in Nigeria.

We need to be realistic here. The nigerian courts have never successfully convicted anyone of corruption in Nigeria. If we are sincere in this war, we need to have the following changes:
a) Put Pressure the legislators to pass the freedom of information bill.
b) EFCC should be an independent body, answerable to the house and should eb able to investigate everyone, including the president. As long as the president is allowed to appoint the chair of EFCC, the position would always be tainted by politics.

Crea8vity,
You seem to be obsessed with Ribadu. Madam Waziri acknowledged that EFCC under Ribadu collected over $5.5 billion dollars. She wouldn't have made this statement if Ribadu has not handed them over to his successor.
It would be more productive if you direct your venom and hatred to those who have sacrificed our future (ODILI, IBORI, OBJ, KALU, ALAMS etc).

Hi Muza and creativity,
It appears you are now having a "buyers remorce" in the person of Madam Waziri.
I don't think some of you appreciate the enormity of Mallam Ribadu's task. Fighting corruption is unquestionable, the most difficult job in present day nigeria. Mallam Ribadu did this work with great zeal and passion and in the process recovered over 5.5 billion niara over 5 years. During his tenure, he was able to instil the fear of looting in our thieving leaders.

A lot of you accused him of not following "the rule of law". We all can see the rule of law in action "fining Igbinedion 3.3 million naira after stealimg over 5 billion naira". Creativity, you need to understand that in Nigeria, the judiciary is still subservient to the executive. Can you name a single individual whom the courts have successfully prosecuted for corruption in nigreria. It was the same courts that gave Odili "perpetual injunction".

Fellow nigerians, if we really want good roads, light, water, modest schools and hospitals, we need to tackle the only obstacle to this. CORRUPTION.

Muza, i am really suprised you seem sad at this news item. What did you really expect? You and creativity have been the most vocal critics of Nuhu Ribadu on this board. You called him all sorts of names and accused him of being ineffective.
Mallam Nuhu took up the most difficult job in Nigeria today- which is fighting corruption. He knew the judiciary have been compromised and can't be relied upon. Give me an example of anyone that has ever been successfully prosecuted for corruption in a nigerian court. A judge even gave Odili perpetual injunction. Does that make sense?
Mallam Ribadu  was able to recoup of $5.5 billion during his 5-year stewardship, yet, some nigerians still criticise him in a very malicious manner.
We are just given the priviledged people in nigeria a green light to steal without limits. We are all in teh same boat, only God will let us still have  acountry after the politicians have finished ealing with us.

I think either ODILI or IBORI are currently the richest men in nigeria. If you consider the sad reality that IBORI is currently the defactor precident of Nigeria, considering his Yaradua's god father. He is also the defactor Governor of Delta state. He is still in the corridors of power and continues to loot both from his state and at teh federal level.

Minister of foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe, has been made to answer some hard questions by the international community following what is being regarded as a decline in Nigeria’s fight against corruption mirrored in the seeming ‘harassment’ of the former helmsman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu.
Maduekwe, speaking to newsmen, Tuesday, in Abuja, noted that these subjects formed the key issues raised by United States policy makers, who he conferred with during his official visit to Washington D.C. last week.
Ojo Maduekwe
In defence of the present administration, the minister noted that there has been no decline in the fight against corruption, but just more focus on good governance and the observance of due process.
Acknowledging the difference between the approaches of the past and present government, the minister explained that the methods employed by the Obasanjo regime was necessary at that time when the nation was in dire need of control, saying, however, now was the time to thoroughly respect the rule of law and fundamental human rights.
He said, “There can be a corrupt way of fighting corruption, when you ignore that the accused also has rights, that an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Nigeria is capable of trying the corrupt people by it.”
Maduekwe though commending Ribadu’s time at the EFCC, noted that the incidents surrounding his recent fall-out with the authorities was unfortunate, noting, however, that it was not enough to attract international intervention.
According to him, he told the US officials that “there is no need for diplomatic intervention. What we need is capacity building for our officials to fight corruption, but even that should not come with strings attached. We would not accept any lecture on this matter from any nation no matter how powerful. We would not tolerate any meddling.”
Notably, these events would most likely affect Nigeria’s ratings with Transparency International (TI), an independent international body that rates the degree of corruption in a nation, a possibility Maduekwe says would affect more the integrity of TI than Nigeria “because I don’t see why the problem between one employee and his employer should affect the perception of our transparency especially in the light of the great strides the nation has made.”

Eddmo, do you mean that a man who recovered over $5.6 billion dollars over his stewardship at EFCC fought corruption on the pages of newspaper? Waziri made this known at a recent anti-corruption event held in Abuja. Ribadu is a champion of the masses and we will continue to remain grateful to him. He tried his very best under very difficult circumstances and he was able to instill the fear of stealing in our elected officers.

It is your likes that critised Idiagbon of being too strict and welcomed IBB with open hands before of his deceptive smile. After 10 years of Babangida's massive corruption, we are all still paying the price of his misrule.
We have to decide if we are really serious about changing our society otherwise, zimbabwe will be better than nigeria in a coupke of years.

EFCC recovers $5.6bn, blames judiciary (TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER 10/12/2008)
Lanre Adewole, Abuja -10.12.2008

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it had recovered over $5.6 billion while it accused the judiciary of frustrating expeditious trial of those accused of corrupt practices.


A statement issued by the commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, quoted the commission’s chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, as speaking at a forum marking the 2008 International Day against Corruption.


According to the statement, “ Waziri stated this at a forum convened to mark the 2008 International Day Against Corruption. The EFCC’s boss bared her mind on some challenges arising from long prosecution time circle in the courts, a situation, she said, was making the wheel of justice grind slowly.


“She also expressed worries over the slowness in obtaining judgments in corruption cases as against advance fee fraud cases. “It remains a puzzle that advance fee fraud cases are speedily tried and judgments rendered, but not so with corruption cases.

One challenge, therefore, that we need to urgently address is how to bring corruption cases to quick conclusion in the courts,” she said.


Besides, Waziri is disturbed by the increasing spate of granting ex parte injunctions by some courts in a bid to restrain anti-corruption bodies, including the EFCC from performing their statutory responsibilities. This tendency, she feared, might continue to pose serious hindrance to the fight against corruption.


====================================================================================================================

Creativity,

The statement above was credited to Mada Waziri. Obviously, all these funds and the over 290 convitions were under the sterwardship Mallam Ribadu. You can't tell me all these convictions or money were recovered from only Obasanjo's enemies.
The same Waziri, who just like you has been criticising Ribadu at every opportunity had the temerity of telling an International audience the work EFCC
has been doing in the last 5 years. Most if not all these accomplishments were done by Ribadu, and not Waziri and the money went into the Government treasury.

Mallam Ribadu could have been making deals with the ex governors, just like AGF and Waziri and could have been the richest man in Nigeria today.

She even ackowledged the great difficulty inherent in fighting corruption in Nigeria. It sounds okay to talk about the rule of law, but, you and i
know that Nigerian judiciary is compromised. You see ex-governors getting perpetual injunction against being investigated. If we rely on the
judiciary, you will see cases lasting for decades. How does that help in the fight against corruption? That will not instill fear of looting in our
criminal politicians.

Ribadu wasn't giving excuse, he had to use any means, even, extrajudicial means to achieve these results. We have to look at his motive, which was to use any available means and tool to instill fear in our leaders thus reducing their tendency to loot, thus impoverishing the populace. Look at ICPC, they make the right noise but have they been able to convict anyone? No!

The level of corruption and it's destructive infleunce in Nigeria society warrants tough decisions. We really need to take drastic actions and If need be, we may have to set up special courts. Fighting corruption in Nigeria is akin to a war, and even in western democracies, unconventional means have been adopted in war situations (guantanamo bay and millitary tribunals in USA).

We are all victims of corruption, and i am ready to dine with anyone including the devil as lond as their actions results in lowering the endemic
culture of corruption and ultimately, improving the life of fellow nigerians.

Creativity, i know the looters ar eimensely wealthy and have harem of women all over the world. I hope, you are not one of them. As for Musa, he is a typical northerner, with an unprogressive mindset, which has largely accounted for the backwardness of the North.