‘He helped Nigeria with P&ID case’ – Lai mourns Ibrahim Lamorde

Lai Mohammed, a former minister of information and culture, has mourned the demise of Ibrahim Lamorde, a former chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Lamorde reportedly died around 3am local time in Cairo, Egypt, three days after undergoing a surgery.

In a statement on Sunday, Mohammed said in the wake of the case Nigeria had with the Process & Industrial Development (P&ID), Lamorde displayed an “enormous institutional memory” that greatly helped Nigeria.

The former minister said Lamorde’s death is a huge loss not only to his family and colleagues, but to the nation in general.

“Our paths crossed when as the Minister of Information and Culture, I, along with other top functionaries of government, embarked on an advocacy to the international media, think-tanks and other influential groups, in the wake of the legal tussle between the Federal Government of Nigeria and P&ID in London,” the statement reads.

“Even though he wasn’t the EFCC Chairman then, Lamorde displayed an enormous institutional memory that greatly benefited the nation during that unfortunate incident.

“Lamorde was clearheaded and shared the same vision with me that the P&ID saga would not only be won in the court of law but also in the court of public opinion.

“His immense contributions in drafting our talking points and articulating our positions were instrumental whenever we engaged with the media or various think-tanks in London on the P&ID case.

“His keen insights, deep institutional knowledge, and strategic acumen ensured that our messages were clear, impactful, and aligned with national interests.”

A private arbitration tribunal had on January 31, 2017 ordered Nigeria to pay $6.6 billion to P&ID plus interest beginning from March 20, 2013 over a failed gas deal.

With the interest rate fixed at seven percent amounting to $1 million a day, the potential payment had accumulated to over $11 billion before the verdict.

In December 2023, a London court refused to grant an application by P&ID seeking to appeal the judgment halting the enforcement of its $11 billion award against Nigeria.

Mohammed said the late Lamorde stated that Nigeria would win the case in court.