I can get subsidy thieves in one week –Ribadu
The
pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr.
Nuhu Ribadu, on Tuesday said he would have unravelled those
behind the
multibillion naira fuel subsidy scam in the country if he was still in
charge of the anti-graft agency.
The former EFCC boss, who currently chairs the
Special Petroleum Revenue Task Force constituted by the Federal
Government, stressed that failure of regulatory agencies in the
petroleum industry led to the monumental fraud in the administration of
the subsidy regime.
Ribadu spoke as a guest at the Visitor’s Forum organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
He said, “If the Petroleum Products Pricing
Regulatory Agency had done its job, the whole subsidy mess would not
have happened. If I were to handle this subsidy thing, I will just go
after the PPPRA, especially those who were at the helm when all these
mess took place.
“In one week, I will bring out every single person
who took one penny. I will not bother myself with anybody else; I will
just get them because nobody would make a penny out of the subsidy
regime without the direct complicity of the PPPRA.”
Ribadu added, “The regulatory agencies in the sector
are directly responsible because it is government’s money. When such
money goes out, it has to go through somebody, who is a government
employee that has responsibility to protect it and make sure that we get
value for every dime spent. It must be with his own conspiracy that
money goes out for products or services.
“Therefore, one can easily come to the conclusion
that it was a failure of the regulators and those that have
responsibility, and we would like to see justice done on those who
allowed the nation’s money to go out in that manner.”
Ribadu also expressed confidence in the capacity of
the present EFCC to get to the root of the fuel subsidy fraud, but added
that the work could take more time than might have been anticipated by
the public.
He said, “I know that the EFCC is working very hard
on the matter, and I believe they will not disappoint millions of
Nigerians who are expecting a just and reasonable conclusion on the
matter. They are working on it, and sometimes, this kind of work does
take time so that it will be able to stand the test of prosecution.
“They need to assemble evidence so that they can have
a successful prosecution because it is an issue of law enforcement and
recovery. My take is that we can still get justice; it is a matter of
time, and, ultimately, I have belief that Nigerians will see justice
done in the matter.”
“They must be given space and time to do their work
effectively. There should not be any outside interference. In the
present crop of leadership in the EFCC, we have quality people; some of
the best that we can get in our country today, in my personal view,”
Ribadu added.
He said as head of EFCC, he requested the London
Metropolitan Police to investigate former President Olusegun Obasanjo
and other top government officials.
He also expressed confidence in the capacity of the
anti-graft agency to arrest and prosecute those involved in the
controversial oil subsidy fraud.
Obviously making reference to those that had
criticised his work at EFCC for alleged bias, Ribadu said he made a
request to the London MET to investigate Obasanjo and other top
government officials, adding that some heavyweights in the
administration were equally investigated and prosecuted by EFCC under
his watch.
He said that it was under his watch that a former
National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode
George, was investigated and recommended for trial.
Ribadu said, “We did the investigation and would have
arrested him (George), but he escaped from the country. He only
returned a few weeks after I was removed and was arrested by my
successor and charged to court.”
