 |
| *Ribadu |
Chariman of Police Service Commission and former Inspector-General of
Police, Sir. Mike Okiro, yesterday, reacted to allegations by former
EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, that he was behind two failed assasination
attempts on his life and not Ibori. Okiro said in a statement released
in Abuja that Ribadu is an inveterate liar.”
Ribadu, who spent
Friday in the witness box and was cross-examined by both the defence and
prosecution at the hearing on confistication of assets of former Delta
State Governor, Chief James Ibori at the Southwark Crown Court, London,
described the former IGP as “ a despicable human being, the most corrupt
police officer I have ever seen.” Continuing, he said, “He made my
life hell. He withdrew my official car and police security.”
In
the statement, Okiro stated that Ribadu’s allegation that he withdrew
his official car and police security was far from the truth. “Nuhu
Ribadu went on a course to National Institute for Policy and Strategic
Studies, NIPSS. He was not posted out of EFCC. His Deputy, Ibrahim
Lamorde was acting and holding forth. The vehicle(s) he was using
belonged to EFCC where he was Chairman for about six years and could not
have been withdrawn by the Police. The policemen he used as his
security were those posted permanently to EFCC.
“Therefore
the Inspector-General of Police had no role in their internal daily
deployment. Thirdly, Nuhu Ribadu was on course as Assistant
Inspector-General of Police and statutorily had to maintain his
paraphernalia of security details. Nigerians will remember that Nuhu
Ribadu once caused a newspaper publication to be made to the effect that
he was attacked and shot at on his way to NIPSS but was saved because
he was driving a bullet proof vehicle and the attackers could not stop
him. He said that he suspected a retired Inspector-General of Police who
had been monitoring him. I was then serving as IGP.
“ I was angry
that a serving Assistant Inspector-General of Police or even any AIG at
all or a VIP, for that matter, was shot at and I was not briefed. I
called him several times to give me details but he refused to pick my
calls. I then sent signals to Commissioners of Police (CP) FCT Abuja,
Nasarawa, Kaduna and Plateau, the likely state commands where the
incident could have taken place.
They all replied that no such
incident in their commands. Since I could not reach him I addressed a
press conference where I stated that his claim of attack was false. I
took that advantage also to ask him publicly to come up with details of
the day and time and where the incident took place. Nuhu Ribadu never
came up as directed. For him to turn round now and say that I was
involved “in attempts to assassinate him” demonstrated the double speak
for which he is shamefully known. Lies, lies and lies. He was an
Assistant Inspector-General of Police under me. Why must I want to
assassinate a subordinate officer?
Ribadu’s assertion that he was
present when James Ibori nominated Okiro to be IGP, Okiro stated that he
was appointed on merit and seniority.” Two years ago, after my
retirement, Nuhu Ribadu told some of his friends that he did not obey my
instructions and directives when I was IGP because he had been
pencilled to take over as IGP from IGP Sunday Ehindero and he had been
factored and positioned for the office when I came and usurped it, as if
I appointed myself IGP or as if he himself is God to determine the
course of nature. He claimed that he regarded me as an interloper who
took the position reserved for him and so despised me and whatever I
stood for.”
Okiro who also frowned at Ribadu’s allegation that he
was the most corrupt police officer he has ever seen stated that he had
positions of authority in the Nigeria Police Force without blemish and
challenged the former EFCC boss to come up with evidence to prove his
allegations.
Describing Ribadu as “an inveterate liar”, Okiro
woundered why he should denigrate his senior in such manner asserting
that it shows he was ‘indisciplined.’
Source: Vanguard
No comments:
Post a Comment