During the hearing of the former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori’s case in London, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu made more stunning revelations under oath that the EFCC had no official records for the $15 million dollars bribe allegedly paid by Ibori to get cleared of corruption prosecutions.
On Friday, the fifth day of the hearing of the Ibori’s case which is slated for three weeks is however expected to continue next week, Ribadu could not gave evidences of the way Ibori allegedly attempted to give him bribe and could not also provide official documentation to back up the allegations.
He revealed that the Commission had kept no investigation file, notes of calls, meetings, briefings or records of the dealings with Ibori during the period under review.
During the cross-examined by Ibori’s lead counsel, Ivan Krolic, Ribadu also maintained that the only evidence he had; his personal notes, were lost in transit but he contradicted himself with time he claimed to have misplaced the items as he reportedly gave a different date during re-examination.
He told Krolic he had lost his briefcase in 2008 while in school but contradicted himself on the same day during re-examination by the crown prosecutor, Sasha Wass, the items got missing in July 2007.
But when Krolic, reminded Ribadu of the date he claimed in the morning, Ribadu simply maintained: “Everything happened in 2008.”
The conversation went thus:
Krolic: Do you always take notes in the course of your work or investigation?
Ribadu: As a trained officer, you are supposed to take notes.
Krolic: Did you take notes on Ibori in the course of your several conversations with him over the offer of $15million bribe?
Ribadu: I did, but lost them during my crisis in Nigeria.
Krolic: Did you not keep them in EFCC office?
Ribadu: No. I am the chairman; it’s not my job to keep files.
Krolic: Ok, when you lost your personal notes that contained your conversation with Mr. Ibori, who did you report to?
Ribadu: I lost a complete briefcase containing documents
Krolic: Where?
Ribadu: In Jos while I was in school
Krolic: So who did you report to?
Ribadu: I reported to my school.
In reaction to this, Ibori’s lawyer, Jonathan Epelle, noted: “Mr Ribadu could produce no investigation file and no evidence to support his claim in a case as serious as a $15million bribe allegation.
Epelle also noted that Ribadu had eventually disagreed with his former colleagues, Ibrahim Lamorde and James Garba, “on even the most basic issue”.
And Ibori, told his lawyers after the hearing that failure of Ribadu to produce official records of the bribery allegation and even give accurate date in corresponding to other witness was a sign of
“Ribadu could not even recall the date of the alleged bribe, how many bags it was contained, whether or not he saw the money or even who was present. He is a serial liar, who lied consistently and not able to sustain his lies”, he was quoted to have said.
Ribadu who told the court that there was no document to indicate the $15million bribery allegations in the Commission’s office, was unable to provide evidence on how he misplaced his personal jottings on the issue.
It was also revealed that Ribadu did not report the case of his missing briefcase containing vital documents including his personal notes on the Ibori case to the police.
This was the conversation when the Krolic further cross examined him;
Krolic: Is it right to say that you should have ensured that your conversation with Ibori over his offer of $15million bribe to you should have been kept in an EFCC file?
Ribadu: Of course, but in the file of the individual investigating officers
Krolic: Are these individual files not central in EFCC?
Ribadu: Individual files of the officers involved.
But when Krolic, reminded Ribadu of the date he claimed in the morning, Ribadu simply maintained: “Everything happened in 2008.”
However, the current EFCC boss, Ibrahim Lamorde who was one of Ribadu’s officers then, stated in a prosecution witness statement and that the money was brought and put in the car by Andy Uba and his domestic staff.
But this was also contrary to Ribadu confessions that the $15million bribe was delivered by by Ibori’s driver and assistant into a room at Andy Uba’s place.
“You said yesterday that it was Ibori’s staff that handed the bag containing the money to you”, Krolic re-examined trying to clarify the conflicting statements of Ribadu and Lamorde hence, Ribadu simply answered: “Yes”.
“I did not sign this statement; you need to ask Lamorde”, Ribadu further maintained when Krolic insisted Lamorde’ statement had noted to the court that it was Uba and his domestic staff who put the money in the car.
Krolic then said: “Mr. Ibori did not offer or give any bribe money of $15million neither was he there at Mr. Andy Uba’s residence during the alleged handing over of bribe money.”
He told the court that while he does not dispute the fact that $15 million exchanged hands between Larmode, Garba and Uba, and deposited in the Central Bank of Nigeria, the money was from the Federal Government in an attempt to frame Ibori.
Besides, Krolic requested that Lamorde and James Garba should be made to appear before the court alongside Ribadu but it was reported that the duo could not secure their visas to the UK.