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could not have been withdrawn by the Police.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.
*Ribadu
"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.'
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