Former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and 2011 Presidential candidate of the defunt Action Congress of Nigeria ACN, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu disclosed that the decision by the Police Service Commission (PSC) to demote, and later dismiss him from the police was nullified by a court, causing the reversal of the action taken by the government.
Ribadu who spoke at a public lecture to mark the official opening of a new Law office building of Tayo Oyetibo & co: Solicitors and Barristers in Lagos on Thursday said he challenged his demotion at the Federal High Court in Abuja, dissuading claims that he was pardoned by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Ribadu was reflecting on his sojourn in the EFCC and how he regained his rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police.
"I'm here today not just to honour my brother Barrister Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, but to sincerely express a depth of gratitude for his selfless contributions to my personal and public service career. My relationship with this remarkable lawyer is one for which I must forever remain grateful.
"He has stood with me, believed in my causes while I was at EFCC and dedicated his time and resources to representing us pro bono. Among Barrister Oyetibo's many historic victories was in my case with the Nigerian Police Force in which he challenged my dismissal in court and had the decision reversed and my ranks restored. This is a huge favour which I may never be able to repay, except with these tokens of gratitude.
"I want to seize this opportunity to thank the brilliant lawyers and brothers who stood for us and provided us with their free legal service at the EFCC, especially at the time we were under tremendous pressures in our struggles to carry out assignments considered impossible by detractors," he said.
Speaking on the theme, 'The Social Contract: Which way Nigeria',he faulted those who believe that the problems faced by the nation today resulted from its tribal, religious and social diversity, arguing however that such ought to be the real strength upon which the nation can draw.
He added that the nations that have faced more critical crisis across the world are those with common language and religion.
The former EFCC boss cited the cases of Rwanda and Somalia, one a Christian country with a single language, but with only two tribes and the other a mostly Muslim country with a common language yet both experienced crisis of unimaginable proportion.
http://weekend.peoplesdailyng.com/index.php/news/national-news/1203-court-not-jonathan-reversed-my-demotion-ribadu
