Why FG restored Ribadu’s AIG rank –Minister

By Olusola Fabiyi

The Federal Government has expressed its willingness to review the cases of 139 police officers who were demoted from their ranks in 2008 alongside the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.


FG‘s readiness to take a second look at the circumstances that led to their demotions and in some cases, retirement, followed Monday‘s restoration of Ribadu‘s rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police and the conversion of his dismissal to retirement.


There had been insinuations that the FG was rehabilitating Ribadu because the President Goodluck Jonathan administration was considering to offer him another public office.


But speaking with newsmen in his office on Thursday, the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Waziri, said the government reviewed Ribadu‘s demotion and dismissal based on a petition he wrote to the Police Service Commission and copied the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, and his ministry.


Waziri said the PSC, the IGP and the police affairs ministry were ready to look into the case of the 139 other officers who were demoted with the former EFCC chairman.


He explained that Ribadu‘s case was singled out with his rank restored on Monday because he was the only one that appealed to the PSC, asking the commission to restore his rank.


The PSC had restored Ribadu‘s AIG rank on Monday and consequently retired him after he contested his demotion to the rank of a deputy commissioner


The former EFCC chairman had refused to report at Benin, Edo State where he was transferred to as the DCP in charge of the zone.


Apart from Ribadu, others who were demoted from the rank of commissioners to deputy commissioners were Solomon Arase, Amodu Ali, Columbus Okaro, Olayinka Balogun, Adebayo Ajileye and the late Force Public Relations Officer and then Commissioner in charge of Kaduna State Police Command, Mr. Haz Iwendi.


Iwendi‘s rank was later restored following public outcry that greeted the government‘s action, which was taken on April 5, 2008.


The police affairs minister said that there was no way government would have considered the remaining officers while restoring Ribadu‘s rank because they did not formally complain through the official channels.


He said it was also wrong to assume that the PSC took the action alone, adding that the office of the IGP and his (Waziri‘s) ministry were consulted.


Waziri said, ”In the case of the restoration of Ribadu‘s rank, it was not a sole decision of the PSC; the office of the IGP and this ministry were consulted.


”Concerning the cases of 139 others, well, government will not force them to make their own submissions.


”He (Ribadu) was the only one that appealed against his demotion. And let me tell you that government will look into the cases of others if they choose to contest it.


”There is no way you will review the cases of those who did not complain. Let them complain and government will consider it. But I cannot tell you what the outcome will be because the merit of each case will determine its outcome.”


On the alleged collection of money by the police before releasing suspects on bail, the minister said it was wrong and appealed to Nigerians not to accede to the demand of such officers.


He also said that bail could be delayed based on the case involved, but called on the citizens to always help the police.


He also called on Nigerians not to believe in the Amnesty International‘s report which alleged torture and extra-judicial killings by the police.


Waziri revealed that paucity of fund was affecting the implementation of the 2010 budget as it affects his ministry‘s activities.

Source: http://www.punchng.com