Posted by By ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Abuja on
Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State has lashed out at Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), describing him as 'power-drunk and pursuing a personal vendetta" against him.
Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State has lashed out at Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), describing him as 'power-drunk and pursuing a personal vendetta" against him.
He also accused Ribadu of being an agent of his arch-political foe, the Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu.
Dariye who spoke through his Commissioner of Information, Hon. Yakubu Dati, , was reacting to Saturday Sun's cover story in which the EFCC helmsman, expressed regrets that the Plateau governor was still sitting pretty in office, after jumping bail in U.K where he was held for alleged money laundering.
The governor's spokesman said: 'First and foremost, we believe that Ribadu should shut up. He is not above the law. He is also personalising the issues. The issue is already before the court of law, the House of Assembly has extended an invitation to Ribadu to come and state his case, according to the rules of the law. And he is out there trying to sensationalise issues. It is important to note that Nigeria is higher and above anybody, and the rule and respect for the judiciary are two tenets that keep us together as a country.
'In fact, that is the main reason he is even respected as the Chairman of the EFCC because he is there by law. If he now comes tomorrow, to go against that same law that establishes it, it means he is also rubbishing the state.
We must respect the rule of law. Even the EFCC are exercising their powers because they were establish under the rule of law. And if we want to respect the constitution of Nigeria, which is where he also gets his powers, he should respect the person (Dariye) that is democratically elected.
'So, Nuhu Ribadu should stop playing gutter politics, by calling people names, people that are democratically elected. Ribadu should therefore shut up because there are existing democratic structures on ground that are addressing the issues.
'For instance, the case was taken to a court of law in Kaduna, and it was struck out. Secondly, the Plateau State House of Assembly, based on Ribadu's letter, have initiated action, and they have invited Nuhu Ribadu. So, he should humble himself and come.
'But it appears he (Ribadu) is already prejudicial because the case is already in a court of law, it is already in the House of Assembly and he is shouting, saying the man is guilty, it means that he (Ribadu) is above the law.
We believe that he (Ribadu) has a personal agenda. Because if he is going to descend so low as to discuss like a motor park tout that he regrets Dariye is still in office, then you know it is personal. But if he has a personal issue, he should remove his position as EFCC Chairman and let's face each other one-on-one.