Ribadu’s Legacy Tarnished: From Anti-Corruption Hero to Pawn of Political Power

Once celebrated as a symbol of integrity and courage, Nuhu Ribadu was among Nigeria’s most respected figures, revered at home and admired globally for his fearless leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

His name once stood for accountability and the hope of a cleaner Nigeria.

Yet, that hard-earned reputation now lies in ruin. Nigerians who once saw Ribadu as the nation’s conscience now express deep disappointment that he chose to serve in President Bola Tinubu’s administration; a government many view as steeped in the very corruption he once fought so fiercely against.

The irony is hard to ignore. During his tenure as EFCC chairman, Ribadu himself publicly accused Tinubu and several of today’s power brokers of serious corruption and abuse of office. For him to now stand beside these same figures, defending the indefensible, has left many Nigerians disillusioned and questioning his integrity.

Today, instead of being remembered as the incorruptible reformer who once challenged the political elite, Ribadu is increasingly seen as a shadow of his former self; a man who traded public trust for political convenience.

His recent defense of a top military officer reportedly denied a visa by Canada only deepened perceptions that he has become part of the establishment he once exposed.

Nigerians are asking, if a man like Ribadu once the face of the anti-corruption crusade can compromise his principles, what hope remains for the fight against corruption in Nigeria?

As the saying goes, “You are judged by the company you keep.”

Sadly, by aligning himself with a government tainted by scandal and moral decay, Ribadu has extinguished the flame of credibility that once set him apart. His influence is gone, and his legacy once untouchable now burns in the fire of betrayal and lost trust.