THE INSIDER: Lamorde, ‘constrained by time’, won’t honour senate’s invitation

‎Ibrahim Lamorde, chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will not appear before the senate on Wednesday to answer questions on a petition alleging that he diverted N1 trillion of recovered loot.

TheCable gathered that the EFCC,which is being audited‎ by KPMG, will present a comprehensive report to the senate on the matter in three weeks’ time.

In a letter seen by TheCable, dated August 24, 2o15, in response to the senate’s invitation‎, Lamorde cited “constraints of time”, limitations and the nature of operation of the EFCC as reasons why he would not be available for the meeting.

“Sir, by our understanding the committee (ethics, privileges and public petitions) would like to have comprehensive information of all recovered, forfeited or restituted funds‎ and property in defense of the said ‘charges,” a part of the letter read.

“In view of this, you are kindly invited to note that the commission had, since May 2014, commissioned KPMG to carry out an independent and thorough audit of same from the inception of the commission to date in all six geo-political zones of the federation where we have offices.

“We shall submit the report to the national assembly as part of our annual report and to the committee in particular in about three weeks when we must have finished reconciliation with the audit firm.”

The senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions had invited Lamorde to a meeting in respect of a petition of diverting N1 trillion worth of recovered loot, brought to the senate by George Uboh.

On Tuesday, TheCable reported that Uboh, the petitioner, is currently being tried at an FCT high court by the anti-graft commission.

The allegations that Lamorde embezzled or diverted looted funds recovered from DSP Alamieyeseigha and Tafa Balogun were also levelled against his predecessor, Nuhu Ribadu, in 2009.