by ‘Jola Sotubo

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu has expressed sadness at the current Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

Mallam Ribadu described the industrial action, which has caused the closure of the nation’s universities, as “costly”

Speaking in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, He called on both sides to “as a matter of urgency, bring the current lingering industrial action to an end.”

He said:

“Nobody wins in this supremacy game. Rather, the students, who are the proverbial grass in this fight of the elephants, are the ones paying direly for it.

“This also ultimately draws us back as a nation as a lot of potential and talent could be wasted as this strike rage on.

“I therefore appeal to both sides to urgently come to amicable consensus that will reopen the doors for our students to get back to the class.

“No doubt, our universities need better funding but in pressing for that, caution should be applied so as not to asphyxiate the ailing patient.”

The Eagle Online reports:

The pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was speaking while chairing the public presentation of “Compendium of Anti-Corruption Laws in Nigeria”, a book authored by Barrister Chuma C. Chinye, who is also the Rivers State commissioner for Commerce and Industries.

Ribadu, who bemoaned poor quality of law graduates, said there was the need to acquaint law students with all the existing laws of the country, if they are to become useful to the justice sector.
He said: “Those students who would come out to be judges, lawyers and prosecutors need adequate and early exposure to these laws if they are to contribute positively to the development of our justice sector.

“This is especially important in the light of embarrassing quality of lawyers being churned out of our campuses, which is a reflection of the entire system.”

While urging all Nigerians to familiarize themselves with anti-corruption and financial crimes laws, Ribadu stressed: “These are laws that protect our commonwealth and also guide our conduct.

“They also adequately empower citizens to take action and raise the alarm when they suspect foul play.”

He urged concerned authorities to make the extant laws available to promote awareness.

He added: “However, it is important to state that what we need at this time is to make these laws available not only for relevant stakeholders but to all Nigerians.
“Ignorance of the law, as the maxim goes, is not a defence.

“But it is only fair that these laws are made substantially available, especially to address the appalling level of ignorance of the law by those who should be applying it: members of the entire justice sector – the police, the courts, the prosecutors, etc.”

Ribadu commended the writer of the book for “the patriotic and painstaking effort of compiling our existing anti-corruption laws.
“I had the privilege of going through the two-volume book and I am glad to report that it is an important addition to law literature, which would be found useful by all stakeholders in the justice system.”