Posted by From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation on
ALL - except the date - is set for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to receive its former chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The date will be communicated to him, a source said last night.
ALL - except the date - is set for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to receive its former chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The date will be communicated to him, a source said last night.
It was, however, learnt that Ribadu might visit the commission's headquarters in Abuja tomorrow.
Despite the rumour of his fleeing abroad, following the reported attempt on his life, Ribadu had shown up at the EFCC's headquarters last Thursday to see the Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri.
Ribadu met with the Principal Staff Officer to the chairman, Mr. Bala Sankar, whose boss was away on an official assignment.
The Nation learnt that the EFCC management had decided to receive Ribadu. The officials who will interact with him have been told.
It was gathered that the commission constituted the team in order not to be caught unawares if Ribadu refuses to honour a date likely to be set aside for his appointment.
A source said: "Since Ribadu is ready to honour the invitation of the EFCC, we are also ready for him. He deserves much respect and we will reach out to him on when he can come.
"We do not want him to appear at a time relevant officials would be away on assignment."
The anti-graft commission does not want Ribadu's visit to be a media event, a source said.
Said the source: "We view the issue at stake as more important than media hype that is being attached to the invitation.
"A former acting chairman of this commission, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, has appeared for interaction without any fanfare.
"The commission has restated that Ribadu is not on trial and the issues at stake are purely administrative matters."
"When Ribadu comes around, he has no business with the Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri; he will only interact with some officials of the commission in the appropriate units. So, it is not a personal matter."
Asked to be specific on why Ribadu was invited, the source said: "In connection with issues that border on the integrity of some of his actions, particularly sales of assets and records of assets sold.
"He is also expected to tell the commission where the funds realised from the sales of forfeited assets are kept.
"Some people have taken the commission to court on how their assets were sold and others are threatening to do so. We have to reconcile our records accordingly to be able to handle arising legal issues."
EFCC spokesman Femi Babafemi confirmed the readiness of the commission to receive Ribadu.
He said: "The commission would anytime this week communicate with him on when it would see him."
While the EFCC is about to write the letter of invitation, it was learnt that Ribadu might visit the commission on Tuesday.
A source said: "We have security reports that he might pay a surprise visit. If he does not follow protocol, we will have no choice than to attend to him or ask him to come back to see the appropriate desk officials."