The former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, returned to the country yesterday afternoon after 17 months of self-exile. 
 

Ribadu arrived the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos around 4.30pm aboard a Delta Airlines Flight DL053, and was received by his wife, three of his children, friends and associates.But fiery Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, would rather not share the excitement generated by Ribadu’s return.  He has described the decision to withdraw criminal charges against Ribadu as ill-advised and tantamount to abuse of office.
 

Ribadu who was upbeat throughout his brief stay at the airport described his experience abroad as “wonderful.”
 “Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! I am very happy. I feel very great. I am happy to be back home. I am just coming now. I am happy to be back home; I love you,” Ribadu told journalists.
 

He was however prevented by security operatives from granting further interview to newsmen. Thereafter, he entered a car and drove off.
Later in a telephone interview, he told THISDAY: “I’m so much delighted to be back. I’m humbled by the level of support from every section of the country and that gives me a sense of gratitude to Nigerians. I’m back on duty in the service of Nigeria. I’ve been on duty since the period of my youth service after which I joined the public service.” Ribadu said.
 

Ribadu was listed as one of possible nominees to head the Independent National Electoral Commission. At a point, he was also seen as a likely candidate for the position of vice president. His return to the country is just another pointer to the possibility of some governmental role especially after charges against him were dropped recently, his ranks restored and his earlier dismissal reversed to retirement.
 

But Ribadu would neither confirm whether he would be taking up an appointment in the government or if he intends to run for an elected post. “Like I said, I’ve always been in the service of Nigeria and whatever is going to create that platform to continue in that service would be welcome. I’m back on duty; let’s put it that way. Whatever comes out of that commitment, so be it.”
The former EFCC boss is expected to be conferred with a doctorate degree in law by Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, tomorrow.  The university is owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
 

As a prelude to his eventual return, the federal government few weeks ago dropped charges of non-declaration of assets it was pursuing against Ribadu at the Code of Conduct Tribunal without giving reasons for its action.
The government also went ahead to re-instate him as an Assistant Inspector-General of Police and also retired him on the same rank, with effect from December 22, 2008.
 

Ribadu was in 2007 removed as EFCC Chairman after he fell out with the “powers that be,” and was replaced by Farida Waziri.
He was asked to proceed to the Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Jos. However, towards the end of his course, he was ordered to revert to the former rank of DCP. But at the completion of the course, he was not issued a certificate, and was forcibly dragged out of the graduation hall on account that he was not supposed to have attended the course in the first place.
 

However, a special ceremony was organised for him and his NIPSS certificate awarded to him following the insistence of the then Vice-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who was also chairman of the institution’s board.
Following his purported demotion, he was then posted to Benin City, Edo State. However, he defied the authorities by not showing up at his new posting.
 

Ribadu fled the country on January 3, 2009 after complaining of “serious” threats to his life.
He then proceeded to challenge his demotion from the rank of an AIG to a DCP by the Police Service Commission.
While he was in exile, the then Justice Constance Momoh-led three-man Code of Conduct Tribunal issued a bench warrant against him for failing to honour its invitation.
 

In September last year, Ribadu sneaked into the country in a dramatic fashion to pay condolences to the Fawehinmis over the death of Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
He even went to the mortuary to pay his respects to the human rights activist.
While in exile, he was delivering speeches and attending international conferences around the world. At a point, he was invited to appear before the US Congressional Committee on Foreign Relations.
 

Keyamo in a press statement questioned the decision to withdraw the criminal charges against Ribadu:  “In the last ten years in this country, corruption charges have never been withdrawn against any public officer except the court decides the public officer has no case to answer. So, why treat Nuhu Ribadu as a sacred cow when that was the very tendency he was reported to have fought against?
 

Why should Ribadu not be held accountable by the same standards by which he also held others accountable?  It would appear that the federal government has simply bowed to a certain sectional interest in this case, as there appears to be no legal or moral basis for such withdrawal of charges. It is important that Nigeria should not operate two sets of laws and different standards for the citizens and for public officers,” he said in a press statement.”
 

Keyamo said it was shocking that Ribadu, “who arrested and detained many public officers for similar offences, can be let off the hook without letting him have his day in court.”
The Lagos lawyer said in the past, Ribadu consistently told the Code of Conduct Tribunal that he was ready to defend himself, “but the erstwhile Attorney-General, Aondoakaa was threatening to kill him, hence he refused to appear before the tribunal.”
Keyamo said the decision to drop the charges against Ribadu could “open an unwholesome floodgate of demands by corrupt persons who are facing trial for sundry offences to have their charges dropped.” In the event of that, he said, the government will lack the moral basis to refuse such requests.