In the early hours of that September morning in 2006, I woke up early to prepare myself so as to reach the National Assembly Complex in good time. As a budding journalist with a tinge of activism on the side, I couldn’t wait to hear what the Anti-Corruption Czar, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, was going to tell the Distinguished Senators. At that moment, Ribadu was my hero, and I would stop at nothing that day to see and hear him. He had been making waves, not only in the Nigerian political landscape but also in Western capitals. He had become a darling of Washington and Europe and was well-feared by our corrupt politicians.
As I sat in the gallery, with an almost eagle-eye view of the hallowed floor of the Senate, my eyes now and then riveted toward the presenter’s podium on the left side of the Senate President, in anticipation of the appearance of my hero.
At exactly four minutes past noon, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, clad in a blue-black suit, white shirt, and red tie, was escorted into the hallowed chambers by Florence Ita-Giwa (the Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on National Assembly Matters). He began in his cool, articulate, and persuasive manner, which not only enchanted me but, as I could see, also captivated many of the Distinguished Senators.
One could expect Ribadu in his prime to stir the hornet’s nest, and stir it he did—remarkably well, too—citing some sitting governors whom the EFCC had indicted, including Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos State, Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia, Ahmed Yarima of Zamfara, and going on to say they were also investigating 31 out of the 36 state governors.
In his submission, Ribadu dropped a bombshell that no one had expected, saying the Obasanjo government was planning to work with the EFCC and INEC to ensure that none of the indicted persons would be cleared to contest the upcoming 2007 general elections.
When the floor was opened for senators to contribute, their main concern shifted to the supposed list Ribadu had referenced. In response, Malam Nuhu Ribadu promised to forward the full list to the Senate at a later date. Ribadu bowed and descended from the podium, as I also descended the staircase of the gallery—two steps at a time—in my rush to meet my hero. Luckily for me, I caught up with Malam Nuhu Ribadu just as he was about to enter the elevator. Panting and out of breath, I excused him, and graciously, he stopped as I introduced myself as a journalist and writer from Kano who truly admired his fearlessness. I then fished out my book, which I had autographed for him, and handed it to him. He took it, browsed through the front and back cover, thanked me with a smile, and walked into the elevator. He really made my day.
For me, my greatest takeaway from his presentation was the idea of using indictments as a means to screen political office seekers in the country. Had that path been taken since then, I am sure that by now, our politics and democracy would have been sanitized, and corrupt politicians would have been weeded out of the system.
From that moment up to the eve of the 2007 general elections, the “Ribadu List” continued to raise dust. As late as February 20, 2007, the Senate President, during a plenary session, opened the debate on the list of persons whom the EFCC had indicted for corrupt practices and who were said to be ineligible to contest in the forthcoming 2007 general elections. After extensive debate, an ad hoc committee of seven senators, chaired by Lawal Shuaibu and including Uche Chukwumerije, Olorunnimbe Mamora, Isaiah Balat, Sa’ad Mohammed, David Brigidi, and Prof. Orti, was given two days to report back to the Senate. Their terms of reference were to review the EFCC Act, examine the list of indicted politicians, and consider any other measures that would strengthen the EFCC’s operations.
The committee obtained the list and proposed 16 new amendments to the EFCC Act.
On February 21, the committee invited Nuhu Ribadu, who told them he had forwarded the list to the presidency and that the three versions of the list with the Senate were not the authentic ones. Ribadu forwarded the authentic list the following week, on February 27, identifying indicted politicians based on party affiliation. Among them were Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso from the PDP; Bola Tinubu, Chris Ngige, and Habu Hashidu from the AC; Orji Kalu from the PPA; and Sani Yerima, Ibrahim Shekarau, Kabiru Gaya, and Abubakar Audu from the ANPP. The list Ribadu sent to the presidency contained the names of more than 120 politicians, besides those in the state assemblies.
So Naja’atu Muhammad was right not to apologize as Ribadu demanded because what she claimed was in the public record, as Malam Nasir El-Rufai also pointed out.
As the Hausa saying goes, “Magana zarar bunu ce,” meaning you cannot unsay what you have said—therefore, be careful what you say, as it may come back to haunt you.
Ali Abubakar Sadiq is a journalist who wrote this piece from Kano.
