AN eminent Norwegian-born former Paris magistrate, Dr. Eva Jolly, has said that the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was sacrificed for daring to probe a former governor from one of the oil-rich Niger Delta states and a prominent daughter of an erstwhile president of the country.

Joly, who brought the French state-owned petrol company, Elf Aquitane, to its knees in the mid-1990s, made the revelation while speaking on "Cutting out corruption: The role of the UK and the EU," at the House of Commons.

Paying tribute to Ribadu, who he described as "my friend," Joly, who was given around the clock protection by four policemen during the Elf investigations, told the gathering that "Nigeria tried building a viable anti-corruption campaign and Ribadu was unbelievably efficient, but then, he stepped on the big toes" of the duo.

She said Ribadu discovered that the lady, also a politician, who is currently enmeshed in scandal "bought a flat as an 18-year old student in New York, and we know how expensive it is to buy a flat there." According to her, "Ribadu was removed for indicting the former governor whose the EFCC is prosecuting on graft charges "and it was after doing such great works that they realised he has to go to school."

Speaking from experience, having indicted the cronies of two former French presidents, Francois Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac, Joly said: "It is difficult to investigate sitting powers, they'll stop you."

The Norwegian revealed how Chirac was phoning her in the night and urging her to drop the case, but she refused because, according to her, the President had no constitutional powers to stop the trial.

Amidst deafening silence, as she revealed how European companies colluded with African leaders to defraud the continent, Joly, who once branded France as being "institutionally corrupt," stunned the audience when she disclosed that France frustrated Ribadu as he sought ways of retrieving the loot deposited in French banks by former military dictator, the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

"Can you believe that France did not co-operate with Ribadu because the request was written in English? There are loads of Abacha's money in the UK and Switzerland."

She also accused Britain of not making much progress in fighting corruption, citing the absence of necessary laws to repatriate stolen loot as one major obstacle.

Joly disclosed: "Abacha got $4 billion out of Nigeria and only $1 billion has been returned, while Madam (Mariam) Abacha is paying expensive lawyers to stop the loot being returned."

"This wouldn't have been the case if Britain and other European countries have the required laws to repatriate stolen loot.

"The world's worst company is based in Netherlands. They help plunder Congo and Angola and French banks finance them.

"In the West, we do harbour illicit money. We're not respecting the rules."

She later spoke with The Guardian, expressing confidence that Ribadu would be back: "They've sent him on a course, let him go. He's hugely popular and I know he'll be back soon," she added.

And some peeps were claiming Ribadu the government were right to send Ribadu on study leave. I can't believe people can be this gullible. The guy was doing a good job, but Africans don't like doing things the right way.

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"The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."

I don't know which one pains me more. The fact that African leaders are a bunch of thieves or that they even brought in outsiders in to steal what they could not steal. @ Meddeen I don't think anybody actually believed that Ribadu really had to take a leave when he did. We knew what was up. You are definitely right about the way we think sometimes though. Africa sha.

I was watching a programme on BENTV the week he was sent on study leave, and I could not believe some of the peeps that called. Many were upset with the decision to send Ribadu on leave claiming the government is encouraging corruption, but there were some peeps with contrary views saying he should be sent on study leave. Some even commented that he's not the only one in Nigeria capable of doing that job. I predicted and I still stand by my word that this is the end of the so called EFCC.

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"The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."

@Meddeen,EFCC in your books is all about Nuhu Ribadu or no one else and thats where we disagree.Dude was without doubt doing a good job but an institution as vital as EFCC should "NOT"be built on a single individual rather on a path that is steady.If EFCC fails bcos NUHU was dropped then,it was not meant to be in the first place.UMYA obviously has hawks that would be as effective as Ribadu and maybe he has a plan on checking out OBJ's enormous misdeeds currently displayed by the house committees on Energy and Health.

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IT IS BETTER TO DIE FOR A CAUSE THAT WOULD LIVE THAN TO LIVE FOR ONE THAT WOULD DIE

He has a valid point. The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. Ribadu took us to about step 100 and then he was kicked off the course. We are abck to square one. So Meddeen is right because if someone else comes in and does what Ribadu was doing, the same thing will happen abi. It is the end of the EFCC and it is not just about Ribadu.

since ribadu left office, what has the present man in command achieved what has happened to orji kalu...a thieve who has no shame is left talking and roaming the society.

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SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO SEE THE PLACE,GOD HAS CALLED YOU AS A PLACE OF BLESSING, BUT THATS WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO HOLD ON AND TRUST THE PROCESS
PEOPLE TEND TO DRAW OTHERS BACK FROM THINGS THEY SECRETLY WOULD HAVE LOVED TO DO BUT ARE NOT CAPABLE OR DARING ENOUGH TO DO
THEY WILL ALWAYS TALK BUT YOUR CHOICE IN WHO YOU LISTEN TO IS WHAT MATTERS......

when somebody is doing a good job you should allow him finish his tenure.............the reason given is not strong enough ..it's just like shell calling back the transport minister dienze (sp) madueke for a course

you can also liken it to a building .... if you keep destroying and rebuilding there is bound to be faults or cracks ......Now that they have put in a stooge lets see how much they would achieve

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SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO SEE THE PLACE,GOD HAS CALLED YOU AS A PLACE OF BLESSING, BUT THATS WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO HOLD ON AND TRUST THE PROCESS
PEOPLE TEND TO DRAW OTHERS BACK FROM THINGS THEY SECRETLY WOULD HAVE LOVED TO DO BUT ARE NOT CAPABLE OR DARING ENOUGH TO DO
THEY WILL ALWAYS TALK BUT YOUR CHOICE IN WHO YOU LISTEN TO IS WHAT MATTERS......

Dude, I will remind you after 6 months that the EFCC will not be effective without Ribadu. We'll see how many peeps the EFCC will investigate and bring to court post-Ribadu.

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"The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."

Good point.
We should wait after 6 months or 1 year and then judge Ribadu's successor. I believe the EFCC will be in steady decline by then.

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"The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."

Meddeen! 1, Meddeen!! 2, Meddeen!!! 3, How many times did I call ur name.COM? See eh! IF I SWEAR FOR JU, the thing must catch ju. Make ju ask Sola. Abi no be the same ju dey yab RIBADU for hia say the dude is nothing but Obasanjo's stooge.COM? No be the same ju no let us hear word about how Ribadu is nothing??..... How is he doing a good job in ur book all of a sudden.COM?...... Its not even a year and you are singing another tune... EFCC go vanish under 6months and blah! blah! blah.COM! yet if a new face appears and outshines RIBADU, u go sart to dey sing say Yaradua come from heaven... Nnam just stay wif the program and watch Yaradua, his Government
is still very very young, so no matter what we must give him time. We owe him that much..

By the way am still Ribadu's nr.1 fan

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SKY has no limit


Holland RED LIGHT District
NR DRAMA CAMPUS LIFE & OMOTOLA'S IKEBE READ HERE.....

Here me o Meddeen.COM!
It is required that any officer that attains AIG must go or must have gone through that school. Na our Baba Obasanjo jump procedure. Again without the course Ribadu can never become the IG (Inspector General of police) which might actually be the end of this game plan. As much as I love Ribadu going after the untouchables, I would rather see him as the Inspector general of Police. Nigeria stands to gain more... Bottom line
1. RIBADU is still a police office
2. Ribadu is getting more knowledge that would help him become a better officer
3. The study leave is not even up to one year and before we know it he will be done
Once again let’s not write him or Yaradua off. Just sit tight and watch as the drama unfolds

Another important point, if EFCC depends solely on RIBADU, then they should close it. Once again it is an INSULT to suggest that in a country of 150million only one man is capable of a particular job. I have watched RIBADU'S interviews before, and he had never taken sole credit for the success of EFCC. He has always said it was a joint effort of so many people working so hard behind the scene. Even when people were worried about the fate of EFCC if he eventually leaves, he assured them that there are very capable hands to take over from him. Lemme ask you a question, if OBJ didn’t create EFCC, would you have known RIBADU? Yes there are capable hands, some might even be more capable than him but they just have to be given the opportunity to perform
Like so many people, I too was mad when Ribadu had to leave, but after thinking deep about this I concluded that Yaradua has his own plans (Yes just as I believe in Ribadu, I also believe in Yaradua) so I won’t jump into any conclusion, I would wait and allow this drama unfold. Ribadu would be out of school pretty soon and we will see what happens next.

And by the way I am still Ribadu’s Nr 1 fan

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SKY has no limit


Holland RED LIGHT District
NR DRAMA CAMPUS LIFE & OMOTOLA'S IKEBE READ HERE.....

Hmmmmmmm at the highlighted!!!
OBJ believed that he was doing a good job and needed more time to finish through a quest for 3rd term.How come you disagreed then?
EFFC should not be all about Ribadu who served under an even more ruthless officer and hear it now,a woman whom i heard is currently considered for the job.When the initial drama and gains of helping Mr President-get-there plays out,we would see an even better EFCC and i would be fair enough on Meddeen who has refused to see why Ribadu must attend a course he skipped through promotions that were arbitrary.

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IT IS BETTER TO DIE FOR A CAUSE THAT WOULD LIVE THAN TO LIVE FOR ONE THAT WOULD DIE

ok we shall see ... i'll bet my heart on this ....... nothing is going to come out from this government

__________________
SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO SEE THE PLACE,GOD HAS CALLED YOU AS A PLACE OF BLESSING, BUT THATS WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO HOLD ON AND TRUST THE PROCESS
PEOPLE TEND TO DRAW OTHERS BACK FROM THINGS THEY SECRETLY WOULD HAVE LOVED TO DO BUT ARE NOT CAPABLE OR DARING ENOUGH TO DO
THEY WILL ALWAYS TALK BUT YOUR CHOICE IN WHO YOU LISTEN TO IS WHAT MATTERS......