FORMER Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman Ibrahim Lamorde has been reportedly flown to the UK for medical treatment that could be stress-related as he faces charges of diverting N1trn (£3.26bn) to personal use.
Ex- president Dr Goodluck Jonathan had appointed Mr Lamorde on November 23, 2011 to replace Farida Waziri and his appointment was later confirmed by the senate on February 15, 2012. However, on assuming office this year, President Muhammadu Buhari has replaced him with Ibrahim Magu amid reports of financial impropriety in the commission.
Mr Lamorde, who was scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions yesterday, failed to honour the invitation, provoking wild insinuation that he had fled the country to evade a probe. Activist Dr George Ubah had petitioned the Senate claiming that Mr Lamorde in his capacity as the EFCC chairman diverted over N1trn recovered by the commission.
However, Lagos lawyer Festus Keyamo, who stood in for Mr Lamorde, defended him before the senate, adding that his client is not evading justice but has gone abroad for medical treatment. His spirited defence, however, did not impress senators, who said Mt Lamorde was failing to lead by example.
Mr Keyamo said: “He is still a policeman and he has no reason to go into exile. Lamorde has served this country very well and let me tell you this if you don’t know, the only way to succeed as the chairman of EFCC is for you not to succeed at all.
“Lamorde is not here today, not out of disrespect to the committee as when was invited to this committee, he was invited as the EFCC chairman but between then and now circumstances had changed. He is no longer the EFCC chairman, so because of that, he thought that would be the end of his invitation because he was invited in that capacity.
“He then handed over the case and travelled for medicals and it was in his absence that the second letter came addressed to the immediate past EFCC chairman. The fact that he is no longer the chairman, so he can no longer be invited except as a witness.”
However, the committee chairman Senator Samuel Anyanwu, noted that senate does not accept representation when it invites anybody to appear before it. Also, committee member Senator Obinna Ogba, wondered why Mr Lamorde failed to live by example being a man who was a former boss of the anti-graft agency that usually invited people to appear before it.
Senator Anyanwu insisted that Mr Lamorde should make himself available on November 24 notwithstanding the plea by Mr Keyamo that his client would not be available until December 15. Mr Keyamo later said that the committee was wrong to have insisted that Mr Lamorde must appear before it.
