The pioneer EFCC era
The EFCC identifies Ribadu as its pioneer chairman, appointed in 2003. Its own historical account credits his leadership with taking on advance-fee fraud and pursuing cases involving prominent individuals, including senior public officials.
Documented examples from the EFCC’s retrospective include the prosecution of former Inspector-General of Police Tafa Balogun, former Bayelsa Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and participants in the large Branco Noroeste fraud case.
The broader legacy is institutional: establishing investigative capacity, international cooperation and public visibility for financial-crime enforcement during the commission’s formative years.