9th November, 2015
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Nigeria, Ibrahim Lamorde, has been sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday following a visit to the Aso Villa, a source close to the Presidency has revealed.
No reason was given in the official statement issued by the Presidency.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu as the acting Chairman of EFCC.
“Magu, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police is to take over from Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde who is proceeding on terminal leave ahead of the formal expiration of his tenure in February next year,” a statement issued by Femi Adesina, Buhari’s media aide read.
It would be recalled that Nigeria’s lower chamber, the House of Representatives asked its committee on Financial Crimes to probe the alleged non-remittance of assets and funds worth over N1 trillion involving Lamorde which was ordered by courts at different times to be forfeited to the Federal government by suspects tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
This followed a motion under matters of national importance moved by Rep Leo Ogor, PDP tagged: “Urgent Need to investigate the Non-remittance of Court-forfeited Funds and Properties by the EFCC into Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation and for other Related
Matters.”
While moving the motion, the lawmakers made reference to a petition by one George Uboh in which it was alleged that incumbent and past leaders of the EFCC diverted over N1 trillion recovered from accused persons through the directives of the courts.
“The past and present leadership of the EFCC is being accused of diversion of funds worth billions of naira meant to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation as stipulated by Section 31 subsection 2 and 3 of the EFCC Act of 2004”.
Ogor also noted that reports in the media indicated that the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Justice has
directed the EFCC to investigate the allegation against Ibrahim Lamorde and to forward the result of its investigation to him”.