Indications emerged on Friday that the Presidency decided to dump the Nuhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force report because it didn’t expect what was presented in its recommendations.

Besides, the government initially appointed Ribadu to head the task force with the belief that it would be an avenue to win the former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over to its side.

The Presidency was, however, surprised that Ribadu maintained his uncompromising stand throughout the sitting of the panel.

An investigation by our correspondents showed that Aso Rock became uncomfortable with the whole process when Ribadu refused to ask for sitting allowance as it is the practice during such public assignments.

The thinking of the government at the time of the appointment, according to the investigation, was that Ribadu would use the appointment to worm himself into government’s confidence.

The government, it was also learnt, had thought that Ribadu would be embittered with his loss of the presidential election and would probably want to work with it.

A presidential source said, “The President thought that Ribadu needed to be rehabilitated and that he was going to do away with his rascality.

“Don’t forget that he had no job at that time. The government just commuted his dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force to retirement and we all know that he had yet to be paid his entitlements.

“The little money he had, he had wasted it on his presidential campaign. So, we thought that he would be a good fellow and won’t rock the boat.”

via Punch