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                                                   PRESS STATEMENT
                          
                             RIBADU SHOULD GO FOR COURSE- UNIFEMGA

Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association  (UNIFEMGA) National
Headquarters has watched with keen  interest the controversies trailing the sending of EFCC
Chairman,  Malam Nuhu Ribadu to NIPSS for a course.

The controversy generated by what would have been regarded  as a mere routine matter is
quite unfortunate.

Most of those who have reacted so far have painted a picture that the anti- corruption war is
Ribadu's personal war, so much  so that, they have argued that asking Ribadu to go on  
course at this point in time will necessarily mean an  end to the fight against corruption.

Most of these arguments are selfish and misleading.

It is on record that in the Force, before anyone can attain the position of Commissioner of
Police, he or
she must have undergone series of senior courses either at NIPSS or War College, which
Malam Nuhu Ribadu never have the opportunity because of the way the promotion came
from Assistant Commissioner of Police to Assistant  Inspector General of Police.

Much as we would like to commend Nuhu Ribadu for  doing a good job in E F C C, we in
UNIFEMGA will not
subscribe to the position that only Ribadu can do the work.

To hold this position is to take Ribadu beyond the realm of a mortal that he is.

If this position were to be valid, what happens to the fight against  corruption if Ribadu sleeps
in a night and he does not wake up the following morning?

We are of the firm belief that the fight against corruption should be built around the institution
and not around any individual no matter how effective the individual may be.

As to the argument by some lawyers that by the provisions of the E F C C Act, the Chairman
of the Commission reports directly to the President and the National Assembly, and as such,
he is no longer under the Inspector General of Police and that the I G P cannot send him on
course.

This argument simply misses the point. The fact of the matter is that Mr. Ribadu is still a
serving police officer. He earns his promotion, discipline, deployment and retirement benefits
when he retires in the
Nigeria Police and not in the Presidency or National Assembly.

Where were these lawyers when Ribadu was promoted from Assistant Commissioner of
Police to Assistant Inspector General by the same Nigeria Police within a period of two years?

How come that the same Nigeria Police that promoted him now lacks the power to send him
on course?

Our positon is that Mr. Ribadu is a police officer who has been given an assignment as the
chairman of EFCC. He has performed creditably well in this assignment.

If in the opinion of his bosses he is due to go for a course, so be it.

Our concern is that the war against corruption must be sustained and this need not
necessarily mean that Ribadu must be the chairman.

We believe that there are thousands of Ribadus in the Nigeria Police  and Nigeria. We are able
to assess Ribadu's performance because he has the opportunity to serve.

Given the same opportunity, some of his colleagues may even perform better.

We, therefore, call for an end to this unnecessary controversy over a
simple routine matter.

We wish Mallam Nuhu Ribadu an eventful and rewarding experience at  Kuru and success in
his future endeavours.

We pray that the new Year will usher more good things for us in the
country. (Amin).

Signed.
Alhaji Nurudeen Olarinde
National President.