Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC Chairman
Nigeria’s lower chamber, the House of Representatives on Tuesday asked
its committee on Financial Crimes to probe the alleged non-remittance
of assets and funds worth over N1 trillion 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 make 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”.
But he noted that other agency can handle the
investigations since the the EFCC is not the only agency of government
charged with investigations that bother on diversion of funds by public
officers”.
He added that to thoroughly investigate the allegation
of diversion of funds, the leadership of EFCC and other members of staff
of the anti graft agency must be investigated while emphasizing 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.
The presiding officer, Deputy Speaker,
Yussuff Lasun put the motion to a voice vote with the lawmakers giving
their overwhelming support to the move. The lawmakers also directed the
Solicitor-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Justice
to re-assign the investigation of the petition of George Uboh against
the EFCC to either the ICPC or the Police.
Credit: PM News
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