Posted by By Rotimi Akinwumi (Abuja) and Austin Oboh (Lagos) on
Nuhu Ribadu was last week denied asylum by the United Kingdom, which did not see why he should be granted protection either because of his disagreement with his police bosses or his travails as former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman.
*Faces Suspension For Rejecting Posting
Nuhu Ribadu was last week denied asylum by the United Kingdom, which did not see why he should be granted protection either because of his disagreement with his police bosses or his travails as former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman.
Police sources said he sneaked into London to seek political asylum but drew a blank from the British authorities.
"Ribadu had earlier gone to the ECOWAS court, presumably preparatory to the asylum application, saying he felt greatly endangered.
"He told the UK authorities that he no longer felt safe and that his life was threatened. He also hinted that there was a government plan to poison him," the source recounted.
It was learnt that the British authorities asked him to return to Nigeria and defend himself as he has nothing to hide.
To raise the stakes for him, he may be issued a query next Monday by Inspector General of Police (IG), Mike Okiro, if he fails to report in Edo State where he was expected to have assumed duty as Deputy Police Commissioner (DCP) on December 1.
Ribadu is currently challenging in court his demotion from the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) by the Police Service Commission (PSC).
However, a police source stressed on Monday that "the rules state that any serving police officer must seek and obtain the permission of the IG before suing the police as an institution over any grievance. This Ribadu did not do.
"There is no official record attached to Ribadu's name or his file in the police to show that he is engaged in a legal battle with his employers, therefore, it is taken that he is currently observing his 21 days' grace within which he is expected to report for duty.
"If he does not report at his duty post by Sunday, he will be queried. I tell you authoritatively that his AIG is in constant touch with the IG, who has reported to the IG that Ribadu is yet to report to him, to assume duty as directed."
The source explained that he will not be declared a deserter as speculated in the media though he could be recommended for suspension.
According to police rules, any officer below the rank of Inspector can be declared a deserter 21 days after failing to report for duty.
A query by the IG is what officers from the rank of Inspector get for the same offence, which also requires that recommendations for discipline are forwarded to the PSC for implementation.
Weeks after the event, the police authorities are still disputing claims that Ribadu was forced out of the graduation at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.
They maintain that he walked out of the venue of the event in protest when he saw that his rank in the programme booklet was DCP.
They seek proof that he was molested at the venue of the event, and have noted the absence of any photograph or video depicting this, despite the large number of photographers and cameramen at the occasion.
Ribadu's superiors are yet to hear from him two weeks after he was issued a query asking him to bring the Jeep in which he travelled between Abuja and Jos, during which he said he came under fire in an attempt to assassinate him.
He was also asked to explain how he was attacked in order to facilitate investigation of the incident.