Reps begin probe of EFCC over N1tr assets
The House of Representatives has commenced fresh investigation into the alleged non-remittance of over N1 trillion generated from seized assets by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Federation Account.
The House consequently mandated its committee on financial crimes to investigate the matter.
The resolution was reached after adopting a motion by Minority Leader Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta), asking that the alleged non-remittance be investigated to ascertain its authenticity.
Ogor in his motion said: “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.
“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,” he said.
Ogor added that, “by the powers conferred on the House by Section 88(I) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the House, just like the police and the ICPC can investigate the diversion of funds by Lamorde, past and present leaders of the EFCC.”
There were reports in the media that the Federal Ministry of Justice had directed the EFCC to investigate the allegation of diversion of recovered funds by its chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde.
This followed a petition dated September 18, 2015 to the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Abdullahi Yola.
EFCC debunks claims However, the EFCC has debunked claims that it was under investigation, saying that it would be illogical to ask EFCC to investigate itself.
Head of media and publication of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said this yesterday during a telephone chat with Daily Trust.
According to him, no letter had been sent to the EFCC by the Justice ministry.
“How will the Federal Government ask EFCC to investigate itself? It is illogical.”
Daily Trust reports that the Senate had earlier opened a similar probe of the antigraft commission, but some senators dismissed it as illegal and accused Senate President Bukola Saraki of taking up the commission for investigating his wife, Toyin.
A petition was written against Lamorde by Dr. George Uboh, the Chief Executive Officer, Panic Alert Security Systems (PASS).
Chairman, Senate Adhoc Committee on publicity, Dino Melaye, told journalists last month that the probe of the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Larmode, over the alleged diversion of the monies recovered from a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and former Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, was continuing.