By Dapo Falade and Dele Ayeleso - 21.10.2006

Ribadu gave the charge while speaking at a public lecture tagged “Social Renewal and the Opportunity for Retroopectives” organised to mark the 60th birthday anniversaryof Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd) at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).

According to Ribadu, who was represented at the event by Mr. Ibrahim Ramon, the rate of looting of public funds was becoming alarming and, as such, those coming in to assume leadership responsibilities must be made to undergo thorough medical examinations.

Alleging that more than N43 trillion naira has so far been looted from the national treasury. the EFCC boss said Nigeria has more than enough resources to make it grow at par with most of the western countries but for the alarming rate of public corruption which, he said, was retarding national growth and development.

Stating that corruption has long been established in the country before the advent of the late General Sani Abacha in power, he noted, however, that the late maximum ruler had made a name for himself and his family as the greatest looter Nigeria had ever produced.

“As you are all aware in this hall, there has never been any other president in this country that was as corrupt as the late General Abacha,” he said.

Various speakers at the event eulogised the virtues of the celebrant, Admiral Akhighe, whom many of them saw as being in a good stead to become the nation’s next president.

Former Vice President Alex Ekwueme said he was proud of the celebration, adding that he was proud of the determination of General Abdulsalam Abubakar and Akhigbe to hand over the reigns of governance to a civilian government in 1999, noting that it had never been easy giving up a position of power voluntarily.

For the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akolu, the birthday lecture signified two things namely, hope for Nigeria and that the efficiency and capability of the Nigerian Police to make positive changes in the country was not in doubt.

“Nuhu Ribadu and his team has achieved what Napoleon could not do. But they should not do what they should not do. They should act within the ambit of the law and they should not fear anybody, even if Akiolu is involved. And they should not allow themselves to be used as personal instrument,” he noted.