Pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, has denied saying President Muhammadu Buhari recruited bandits to remove former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The statement credited to Ribadu, which has been circulated on social media, relays an unverified account of the origin of banditry in the country.
It alleged that Buhari asked for help from neighbouring countries to remove Jonathan if he loses the 2015 presidential election. It also alleged that the bandits were forced to begin invading people’s homes as there was no need for them following Buhari’s victory at the elections.
The statement also alleged that Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and former minister of interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, among others were involved.
“It all started in April 2014 when Mohammadu Buhari assembled his ardent supporters, promoters and strategists to determine how to remove President Jonathan Goodluck. Prominent amongst them were El-Rufai, Gen Danbazo (Rtd),” the statement read.
“A decision was reached to consult Miyatti Allah cattle breeders association for assistance to boot Jonathan Goodluck out of office. Consequently, the National Chairman of Miyatti Allah was engaged to bring in foreign mercenaries. Within a month, 2,000 Fulani fighters were brought in from Mali, Senegal, Niger Republic, Chad, Libya to name but a few. Further 4,000 fighters were stationed in Niger and Chad on standby.
“On arrival, they were assembled in Kaduna under the sponsorship of El Rufai and were addressed by various Northern Leaders including the Sultan of Sokoto, Gen Buhari (Rtd) etc.
“Specifically, Gen Buhari in his address told the fighters that ‘the British handed Nigeria over to us the Fulanis at independence. The land (Nigeria) belongs to us. We must reclaim what belongs to us.’”
The statement also alleged that governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, raised N100 billion for the settlement of the bandits as a condition for his re-appointment.
Ribadu, however, in a statement on Thursday, said it was not from him and that he had released a disclaimer in July 2017 when the statement was first shared.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have never at any time wrote or said those words being attributed to me. I have no knowledge of the details contained in the disjointed propaganda message in circulation and I urge the public to disregard it,” he said.
The former EFCC boss called on security agencies to investigate the “genesis of the fake message and fish out the perpetrators”.
