Nuhu Ribadu Reacts To Arrest Warrant

NUHU RIBADU

San Francisco (THEWILL) - The former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu has reacted to Justice Constance Momoh's ruling to have him arrested. 

His statement is reproduced below.

My attention has been brought to the decision today of the Code of Conduct Tribunal headed by Justice Constance Momoh declaring me wanted and a fugitive of the law. 

For those not familiar with the case, this is in respect of suit number CCT/ABJ/01/2009 accusing me of not declaring my assets while in office from March, 2003 to December, 2008.

I am naturally surprised at this decision of the court knowing full well that I had to leave the country on January 3 this year after a relentless persecution which climaxed in two assassination attempts. Previous to this I had been investigated like no other for alleged financial impropriety including for a bogus allegation of treason.

Shortly before December 23, 2008, when my dismissal was announced from the Police, the Presidency announced an investigation into the assassination attempt. Till date no results have been announced on this. 

A month after I left Nigeria following more incidences of death threats, the Justice Minister, Michael Aondoakaa, filed the case against me and the Code of Conduct Tribunal served me notice of this trial.

On February 10 2009, when Femi Falana, my counsel, asked the Tribunal to guarantee my safety, and announced my full preparedness to stand trial in Nigeria, no formal guarantees were issued.

Just two months ago, on September 23, Mr. Falana wrote on my behalf to the Code of Conduct Bureau requesting certified true copies of my asset declaration forms which were submitted on assumption of office in March 2003 and my exit from office in December 2008, nothing has come out of this.

My request for certified true copies of my asset declaration forms cannot be conceived as a privilege, they are indeed a right and the basic condition to enable my lawyers prepare my defence against the charges ahead of the trial. 

I put it all to the relentless persecution against me, even though I cannot see how using the code of conduct track can be any helpful than other discredited methods of the past. Is it not simple logic that I could never have been confirmed for my position in 2003 if I did not submit an asset declaration form to the Senate, as all officers needing senate confirmation are obligated to do.

In the past I have made thus point and it may just be as well to repeat it for all; all my true assets are reflected in my code of conduct declaration and if the regime in power is convinced as its sponsored agents had claimed in the past that I have assets in and out of Nigeria, I again openly and willingly forfeit them to the state today.

Again I urge the Tribunal to thread the path of honour and compel the Code of Conduct Bureau to release the sole documents in its possession which resolves, without a doubt, whether I declared my assets as stipulated by law.

Declaring me wanted and requesting my arrest may have dramatic headline value, but I find it difficult to see how that will satisfy what the Tribunal claims it is trying to resolve. 
I assert that there is no substance to this case; that my assets were declared. 

I offer no further comment on the matter at this point.

God Bless Nigeria.

Nuhu Ribadu
20th November, 2009