Ibrahim Lamorde has been sacked from his position as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by President Mohammadu Buhari over a string of allegations bordering on financial impropriety, particularly the Commission’s inability to account for recovered funds.
Lamorde’s sack and replacement with Ibrahim Magu, a pioneer staff of the EFCC was announced shortly after the Senate postponed indefinitely, his ongoing probe.
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, to act in his place.
Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a press statement, said Lamorde was proceeding on his retirement leave.
“Magu, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police, is to take over from Ibrahim Lamorde who is proceeding on terminal leave ahead of the formal expiration of his tenure in February next year,” the two paragraphed statement read.
Under his watch, Lamorde was accused of diverting looted funds recovered by the Commission, worth N2.051 trillion from public officials, which the Senate has been investigating since August this year.
Sources told BusinessDay last night, that the Presidency could not trust Lamorde to continue as EFCC chairman, after the “string of allegations of financial impropriety made against him, particularly by the Executive Director, Panic Alert Security System, George Uboh.
Uboh had dragged Lamorde before the Senate in August this year, for allegedly diverting N2.051trillion proceeds from forfeited assets seized from corrupt Nigerians, which were kept in custody of the anti-graft agency under Lamorde’s watch.
Lamorde took over the reins of the anti graft agency on the 23rd of November 2011 after the former chairman, Farida Waziri was sacked by Former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Senate panel investigating the claims of the petitioner against Lamorde, suspended further action pending the plea by the EFCC legal team, which requested for more time, pending the release of the agency’s annual financial report by the end of September.
It was gathered that the upper chamber was already in possession of this year’s annual financial records of the anti-graft agency which Lamorde said he would need to defend himself.
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, investigating the petition against him, had slated a public hearing on the matter for Tuesday (today) by 2pm but apparently aware of the new development, it postponed the haring indefinitely.
Clerk to the committee, Freedom Osolo, announced the postponement in a press release in Abuja on Monday.
Osolo however failed to give reasons for the postponement.
The statement reads in part: “I regret to inform you that the hearing of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions slated for Tuesday, 10th November, 2015 has been postponed for the time being.
“You will be duly informed when the meeting is rescheduled, please. The committee regrets any inconveniences the postponement would have caused you”.
He had on Thursday, November 4, issued a statement that the committee would hold a public hearing with all petitioners and those they petitioned on Tuesday (November 10), by 2:00pm at the Meeting Room 120, New Senate Building, National Assembly, Abuja.
Meanwhile, Magu, a Chief Superintendent of Police, served as head of the EFCC’s Economic Governance Unit (EGU) during the tenure of Nuhu Ribadu as the head of EFCC.
He was arrested on August 4, 2008 following allegations that police discovered EFCC files and a computer containing classified documents at his Abuja residence.
During his time at the EFCC, he led investigations into the affairs of officials including former Delta State Governor, James Ibori and current Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Magu worked with Ribadu to jail former Bank of the North chief, Shettima Bulama. Bulama was later pardoned by late President, Umaru Musa Yar’adua.
He is a member of the investigative committee convened by National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the procurement of arms in the Armed Forces from 2007 till now.
Onyinye Nwachukwu, Elizabeth Archibong, KEHINDE AKINTOLA & OWEDE AGBAJILEKE
