AS the controversy rages over the denial of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, that he ever accused President Bola Tinubu of corruption when he was the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ribadu’s ally in Obasanjo’s government, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has accused him of memory loss.
El-Rufai, who was FCT Minister in 2006 when the statement accusing Tinubu of corruption was made said records of proceedings in the Senate and even Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting will prove that Ribadu was lying.
Wading into the war of words between Ribadu and Hajia Naja’atu Muhammad, a former Commissioner at the Police Service Commission (PSC), the former governor said Ribadu was being economical with the truth.
On Tuesday that Ribadu had demanded public apology and retraction from Muhammad whom he accused of lying against him in a Tiktok video.
In the Tiktok video, Hajia Muhammad accused the NSA of serving in President Bola Tinubu’s government, whom he castigated when he was the Chairman of the EFCC.
But in a letter through his lawyer, Dr Ahmed Raji, SAN, the NSA said publicly or privately, he has never maintained such viewpoint.
He said the damage that had been done as a result of the Tiktok video was unquantifiable.
“Clearly, in the text of your recording [reproduced and translated above] you stated that when our client served as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes, [EFCC] he allegedly named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, alongside Sen. George Akume and Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu [all former Governors, and in that order] as the governors in Nigeria who stole the most from public treasury.
“You also stated that today, our client who once held the above odious view about President Tinubu has turned around to be his staunchest defender; especially, with regard to what you stated to be the government’s agenda to silence voices of dissent to the government, citing the alleged arrest of a certain Prof. Usman Yusuf as an example.
“You also stated that our client’s alleged attitudinal change towards President Tinubu means that he has either become a liar or that he lied when he allegedly described President Tinubu, Sen. Akume, Sen. Kalu and other governors as thieves,” read the letter dated February 4, 2025, and signed by Dr. Raji.
Maintaining her stance, Muhammad said she had no reason to tender any apology as the records were there.
On his part, El-Rufai defended Muhammad, taunting Ribadu by saying, “Nuhu must have serious amnesia.”
Amnesia refers to the loss of memories, including facts, information and experiences.
A report in the Daily Trust on Wednesday quoted El-Rufai as saying: “The record of proceedings in the Senate will confirm that Nuhu made those statements, sometime in 2006.
The subsequent Daily Trust report below of February 2007, reconfirms the essence of the statements.
“The conclusions of the Federal Executive Council in 2006, which can be subpoenaed from the Cabinet Secretariat of the SGF’s office contain the allegations.
“In that Special FEC meeting in which I was a member, Nuhu’s EFCC made similar presentations accusing many sitting officials, sometime in 2006. These Council conclusions will further remove all doubts.
“This is for the record and to remind the morally-flexible that at some point in our national life, silence is no longer golden.”
-
Follow us on all social media platforms @dailyquery for more news, information and analyses from around the globe.
