TRIBUNE

Ribadu’s name missing from lawyers’ list – It is laughable, says Ribadu

Lanre Adewole, Abuja – 11.01.2008

THERE are indications that the name of the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, may be missing from the list of legal practitioners enrolled in Nigeria.

But Ribadu has described the development as laughable, insisting that he had all the requisite academic qualifications to make him a legal practitioner.

Allegations that Ribadu may not have been called to the Bar was rife in Abuja on Thursday.

Ribadu’s resume indicates that he was called to the Bar in 1984, though his name was missing from the list of legal practitioners enrolled in Nigeria.

Checks at the Supreme Court showed that his name was missing in the Lawyer’s Directory, a publication containing names of lawyers who are qualified to practise in the country.

His name could also not be found in a number of other publications consulted by the Nigerian Tribune including List of Legal Practitioners Enrolled in Nigeria (1978-1998) published by Markadeet Resources Limited (December 1998); Bench and Bar in Nigeria by Gani Fawehinmi (1988); Nigeria Legal Profession and Lawyers Directory (188- 2003) by Geoffrey Uwadiegwu.

When contacted, Ribadu described the allegation as ridiculous, saying that he had all the requisite qualifications both at the university and Law School.

He also said that the Nigerian Tribune should direct all his enquiries on the matter to the Director General of the Nigeria Law School and the Faculty of Law in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaira.