Former anti-graft chief, Nuhu Ribadu, has slammed the Code of Conduct Tribunal which declared him a fugitive of the law on Friday in Abuja.
Mr. Ribadu, the pioneer head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said, in a statement: “A fugitive, me?”, that he puts the order of Justice Constance Momoh as another episode in the “relentless persecution against me, even though I cannot see how using the code of conduct track can be any helpful than other discredited methods of the past.”
Expressing surprise at the order of the court, the former EFFC boss wondered how the court that was fully aware of the circumstances under which he left the country, could tag him as a fugitive.
“I had to leave the country on January 3 this year after a relentless persecution which climaxed in two assassination attempts,” he said.
According to Mr. Ribadu, shortly before December 23, 2008, when his dismissal was announced from the Police, the Presidency announced an investigation into the assassination attempt. Till date, he pointed out, no results have been announced.
Mr. Ribadu, according to Justice Momoh’s order, is wanted in respect of allegation of his non-declaration of assets while in office from March, 2003 to December, 2008. A daily Nigerian newspaper quoted Justice Momoh as saying: “he should be arrested and brought before the tribunal at its next adjourned date slated for 4th December, 2009.”
In response however, Mr. Ribadu said his asset declaration forms were “submitted on assumption of office in March 2003 and my exit from office in December 2008,” adding, “I assert that there is no substance to this case; that my assets were declared.”
He challenged the court asking, “how could I have been confirmed for my position in 2003 if I did not submit an asset declaration form to the Senate, as all officers needing senate confirmation are obligated to do?”
Insisting that the forms are in the safe custody of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Mr. Ribadu asked: “Is it also not in the power of the Tribunal to simply order the Code of Conduct Bureau to produce certified true copies of my asset declaration if this is what truly concerns the Tribunal?”
Now on exile in Britain and completing a fellowship year at Oxford University, Mr. Ribadu accused the court of deliberately blocking the Code of Conduct Bureau from producing the certified true copies of the asset declaration forms.
“My request for certified true copies of my asset declaration forms cannot be conceived as a privilege, they are indeed a right and the basic condition to enable my lawyers prepare my defence against the charges ahead of the trial,” he said.
The anti-graft chief scoffed at the allegations of impropriety often peddled against him saying while they are not new, they have remained unproven.
“In the past I have made this point and it may just be as well to repeat it for all; my true assets are reflected in my code of conduct declaration and if the regime in power is convinced as its sponsored agents had claimed in the past that I have assets in and out of Nigeria, I again openly and willingly forfeit them to the state today,” Mr. Ribadu challenged.
Poking soft jabs at the tribunal, Mr. Ribadu said: “Declaring me wanted and requesting my arrest may have dramatic headline value, but I find it difficult to see how that will satisfy what the Tribunal claims it is trying to resolve.”
In a telephone interview from Spain where he is attending a conference on the independence rights of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, Femi Falana, Mr. Ribadu’s attorney sneered at Justice Momoh’s order, declaring them as “unenforceable.”
Mr. Falana said it is “trite law that you cannot enforce an order of this nature across international borders and jurisdictions.” He added that what the court could have done was to propose proceedings for extradition as in the 1962 case of the Queen versus Anthony Enahoro.”
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