BREAKING: Ex-EFCC Czar Declared Wanted By Senate For N1trn Fraud, Ibrahim Lamorde Dies At 61—A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, who in 2016 was declared wanted by the Senate has died.
He died aged 62 of undisclosed ailment in Egypt.
The former hunter who was represented by current Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, was invited to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Chaired by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, on allegation of fraud but did not appear.
Angered by his refusal, the Senate mandated the committee to issue a warrant of arrest to compel the inspector general of Police to arrest and present him for questioning.
This followed allegations brought through a petition by Dr. George Uboh, Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security Systems, PASS, a Non-Governmental Organisation, after three letters to him by the Clerk of the Committee, Freedom Osolo had failed.
Then Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had on October 6, 2015, referred the petition to the committee after Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, (PDP-Delta North), relying on Order 41 of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended and drew the attention of the Senate to a petition by Dr. George Uboh against Lamorde for alleged financial crimes and corruption amounting to N1trn.
Presenting the report, Anyanwu in a nine-page report recalled “that on Tuesday, October 6, 2016, rising on Order 41, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP, Delta North), drew the attention of the Senate to a petition from Dr. George Uboh against the chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged financial crimes and urged the Senate to look into the matter.
“In line with Order 41(3), the Senate referred the matter to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, for detailed investigation.
“After going through the facts available, the committee observed as follows: That having waited in vain for the appearance of Mr Ibrahim Lamorde since November 24, 2015, and not seeing or hearing from him, it was forced to conclude that Mr Lamorde wants to evade investigation by the committee.
“Consequently, the committee reasoned that the only way to get the former EFCC chairman, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, to appear before it was to invoke the powers of the Senate in Section 89(1c&d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and compel his attendance.
“The committee is convinced that unless this line of action was taken, the National Assembly might be drawn into consequential disrepute in the future.”
The committee recommended that based on findings, it “wishes to recommend that to save the National Assembly, as the highest law-making body of the nation, from irreparable damage to its reputation and capacity to summon, the former EFCC chairman, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, be compelled to appear before the committee to answer for activities of his tenure.
“That to effect recommendation one above, a warrant of arrest be issued by the Senate for his arrest.”
Rising on the point of order, then Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, noted the warrant of arrest as recommended was in order and that the Committee had the powers to issue the same, citing Section 88(1) and 89(1) of 1999 constitution as amended.
The Senate President agreed saying, “The issue has been well spelt out by the Deputy Senate President, which he has clearly referred to in the constitution. Based on the constitution, this matter does not need to come to us at plenary.
“It should be left at the level of the committee and in accordance with Section 89 of the Constitution. So I will sustain the point of order of the Deputy Senate President. Prior to the position of the committee, three letters were written inviting Lamorde which he ignored.”
But Lamorde, through his lawyer, Keyamo, denied the allegation urging the security agencies to resist the invitation to drag themselves into “this illegal scheme.”
He stated, “We most respectfully urge the Nigeria Police Force to await the outcome of the matter pending in court before deciding one way or the other about the enforcement of the said Warrant of Arrest, if eventually issued,”
Lamorde would be buried according to Islamic rite.
