EFCC findings after setting up a committee in the first quarter of 2009 to ascertain the entire of assets recovered or seized by the Commission since inception, revealed due process was flouted in the disposal of some properties.
The committee which submitted an interim report to the EFCC chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, indicated that during Ribadu’s tenure, the commission sold properties in Port Harcourt and Abuja owned by former Bayelsa state governor, DSP Alamieyeseigha, to the same person under the guise of two different legal non-entities. Also, six of the companies which bought over ex-Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun’s assets at very cheap prices were phony.
A source told Weekly Trust that Mrs. Waziri and other senior officials of the Commission are unhappy with the development but are unable to do anything about it because the standing down order came from the presidency to carpet the report.
“The EFCC chairman is not impressed with the pressure and she has made assertions that she may not subject to his authority if she has to work with him. The whole situation negates the credibility of its anti-corruption drive,” the source said.
According to the source, the federal government decided to pave way for Ribadu’s return to Nigeria and offer him a political office because of his long and enduring relationship with the presidency.
Weekly Trust learnt the same ‘privilege’ was extended to former FCT Minister, Nasir el-Rufai, as a friend of Ribadu but his case could not be buried because the EFCC had already filed charges against him in court. “If EFCC had not filed the case already, el-Rufai would have walked away a free man today. Unfortunately, the suit was filed in 2008, so the trial has to continue,” the source stated.
It was also revealed that the politics to clear el-Rufai will be played out by the judiciary as the EFCC has already completed its assignment.
The Code of Conduct Tribunal, on May 5, in Abuja, struck out the criminal charges of non-declaration of assets filed against Ribadu by the federal government. The tribunal also vacated the bench-warrant it issued for the arrest of Ribadu.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
