Lamorde removed as EFCC chair

Ibrahim Lamorde has been removed as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A presidential source confirmed the development to TheCable, saying the official announcement would be made later.

“It is true that Lamorde has been removed,” the source said.

No reason was given for his removal but Lamorde met with Buhari at the presidential villa in Abuja on Monday, in what is believed to have been his last meeting with the president as head of the anti-graft agency.

Wilson Uwujaren, spokesman of the commission, could not be reached for comments as at the time of filing this report.

Lamorde joined the EFCC at the inception of the commission in 2003 and was made director of operations.

In 2007, when Nuhu Ribadu, first chairman of the agency was removed, Lamorde acted as head of the EFCC for five months and handed over to Farida Waziri.

In November 2011, Lamorde stepped into the saddle again following the dismissal of Waziri by former president, Goodluck Jonathan.

He was made the substantive chairman in February 2012.

But for the dismissal, the anti-graft czar would have completed his four-year tenure.

There have been different allegations of corruption against him.

One George Uboh had petitioned the senate, alleging that Lamorde failed to remit more than N2.05 trillion, being funds recovered from corrupt leaders.

He was also accused of diverting over N1 trillion recovered from the sale of confiscated properties belonging to convicted officials including the late Diepreye Alamieyesiegha, former governor of Bayelsa state, and Tafa Balo­gun, former inspector-gen­eral of police.

He has denied all the allegations.