Senate clears Lamorde as EFCC chair
The Senate has confirmed Ibrahim Lamorde as Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This followed the consideration of President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for the confirmation of the nomination of Lamorde in accordance with Section 2(3) of the EFCC Act 2004.
The Senate had three weeks ago resolved to screen Lamorde in the committee of the whole due to local and international interests.
Lamorde, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was led into the Senate Chamber by the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Affairs, Senator Joy Emodi at 11.20 am.
He was asked to “bow and go” by Senate President David Mark at 1.02 pm after answering a barrage of questions.
Lamorde said: “I have worked with two different chairmen of EFCC and the experience and training I have acquired has put me in a good position to take EFCC to another level.
Lamorde also hinted about the effort of the commission to deal with corrupt EFCC officials.
The EFCC boss agreed that “to some extent it is true” that there are corrupt EFCC operatives but added that the issue was seriously being addressed.
He noted that about three EFCC operatives are currently in detention on corruption charges while the commission has initiated prosecution process against two others in court.
To address corruption in the commission, Lamorde said that he decided to establish internal affairs department as well as to introduce polygraph test.
Operatives of the commission, he said, would be made to take the polygraph test at six months interval to curb corruption.
He noted that there is another system to determine whether the life style of an officer is commensurate with his or her take home pay.
He also agreed that over dramatisation at the point of arrest that used to be the order of the day has been dropped.
He said: “We have changed that method. Since I came on board three months ago, such things no longer occur. And I assure you it will not occur again.”
He listed poor funding as a major challenge the anti-graft agency faces, saying that the National Assembly has promised to look into it.
On relationship with the Code of Conduct Bureau, he noted that the commission has a very good working relationship with the Bureau just like they have with other anti graft agencies.
Lamorde also spoke on plea bargain. He said those who participated in arranging the plea bargain involving a former governor regretted the action.
There is corruption in EFCC – Lamorde
NEW Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, told the Senate on Wednesday that there were corrupt officials in the anti-graft agency.
Lamorde, while appearing before the Senate’s committee of the Whole House to defend his appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan, said the commission’s operatives were indeed involved in corrupt practices in their handling of corruption cases.
Lamorde’s appointment was confirmed by the Senate. He has been heading the anti-corruption commission since his predecessor, Farida Waziri, was sacked last November.
” We have asked him very deep questions and from the answers we got from him, we want to give him the benefit of doubt that he will perform and that the EFCC will do precisely what the Act has tasked them to do. At the end of the day, the country will be better off,” President of the Senate, David Mark, said in his remarks while confirming the appointment of the EFCC boss.
To tackle cases of corruption in the agency under his watch, Lamorde told the Senate that he had embarked on internal rearrangement to revamp the image of the commission.
He said, “Going forward, I have decided to establish an internal affairs department and the department of professional standards whereby every employee of the commission, including myself, will be vetted at entry into the agency and also periodically to see whether one’s lifestyle is commensurate with one’s income and if somebody is having a lifestyle that is unacceptable to the agency.
“I have decided to introduce a polygraph test for everybody. We are going to acquire machine and ask all of our staff to undergo polygraph test. There is no way an agency like the EFCC can go out and perform its functions when people out there are of the perception that corruption also has infested the commission.”
Lamorde also spoke on the need to strengthen existing anti-corruption agencies instead of establishing new ones. He however supported the establishment of a special court to ease the burden on regular courts dealing with corruption cases.
He said, “Considering our resources, I think what may be necessary is to strengthen existing agencies, to give them the tools to carry out their mandate. If we can do that and if all the agencies are doing what they should do, it will minimise corruption in our national life.
“The reason for the clamour for special courts for certain cases has to do with the processes of law. Judges have corrupt cases and other cases to attend to, but if we have special courts for corruption cases, it would facilitate the process. I don’t think it will be too much to ask that a special court be dedicated to corruption cases.”
According to him, the merger of the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission is not necessary as both agencies could operate separately to curtail corruption in the country.
He however added that the EFCC was gathering intelligence on the management of the scheme.
Lamorde noted that the commission and the police often swapped cases of corruption, depending on the nature of the cases and the agency which stood a better chance of tackling the case.
On the controversial exit of the pioneer Chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, Lamorde noted that actions against him were taken as a result of his position as a police officer and not as the chairman of the EFCC.
He also noted that the list of politicians drawn by the commission was meant to serve as an advisory list to politicians that might need to examine the candidates before fielding them for elections.
On former Vice-President, Abubakar Atiku, he said, “This list that most people say suggested that the commission was being used by the then President (Olusegun Obasanjo) to go after his perceived enemies, I know people made mention about the matter involving the former Vice-President; what has not been said is that that matter involving the Petroleum Trust Development Fund was not initiated by the EFCC.
“It was a mutual legal assistance request from the United States; and as a responsible country and government we are bound to respond to the request by other judicial authorities with which we have bilateral agreements. It was triggered by an investigation of a member of Congress, William Jefferson, who is in jail and he said he had an associate in Nigeria and that was how the investigation started.”
He said the commission had changed the method of over dramatisation of arrest of corruption suspects, noting that “such things no longer occur. We have changed that and I assure you it will not occur again.”
3 EFCC staff detained for corruption, says Lamorde
In a rare show of candour, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorode, admitted to the Senate that there is corruption among officials of the commission.
Lamorde said this when he appeared for his confirmatory screening on Wednesday. He, however, made a case for the establishment of special courts to deal with corrupt cases, adding that the plea bargain granted to former Edo State Governor was regrettable.
In a question and answer session, which held in the Committee of the Whole yesterday, Lamorde said steps had been taken to address the matter. “To some extent that (corruption in EFCC) is correct but since I assumed office as acting chairman; I have taken steps to address that issue. I have about three members of staff in detention on corruption cases.
“We have also initiated prosecution on two officers whose cases are in court. To further address the issue, I have decided to introduce polygraph tests (which) officers, including myself, should be made to take at six months interval to address that problem.”
In addition, Lamorde disclosed that the lifestyle of every EFCC staff “will be under scrutiny to ensure that it is in consonance with the office standards.”
On plea-bargaining, he said: “It is something that everybody that is involved has regretted. Awarding of punishment is the discretion of the judge. The judge can make a pronouncement that is contrary to your expectation.
“But whether I believe in the principle of plea bargaining or not, that depends on how it is carried out. It is really something that may be, people should have to sit down to discuss ways and manner it should be done but I don’t think we should jettison the idea of plea bargaining.
“The only thing is that if you are going on plea bargaining, there should be true declaration of assets and assets that is traced to the person should be seized. We have been able to achieve a lot through plea bargaining.”
In his response to questions that EFCC was used as a hounding dog in victimising politicians from contesting election, Lamorde noted that the intention was not for witch-hunt but to show political parties the quality of candidates they wanted to field. “It was an advice to political parties to look at candidates who wanted to contest. Perhaps they have some issues but it was perceived to have come from the past president to go after his enemies.”
Speaking after his confirmation, Senate President David Mark said the National Assembly would give Lamorde the benefit of the doubt on his proposed performance at the EFCC.
“From the answers we got from him, we want to give him the benefit of the doubt that he will perform and that the EFCC will do precisely what the Act has empowered them to do and at the end of the day, the country will be better off.”
The Senate has confirmed Ibrahim Lamorde as Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This followed the consideration of President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for the confirmation of the nomination of Lamorde in accordance with Section 2(3) of the EFCC Act 2004.
The Senate had three weeks ago resolved to screen Lamorde in the committee of the whole due to local and international interests.
Lamorde, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was led into the Senate Chamber by the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Affairs, Senator Joy Emodi at 11.20 am.
He was asked to “bow and go” by Senate President David Mark at 1.02 pm after answering a barrage of questions.
Lamorde said: “I have worked with two different chairmen of EFCC and the experience and training I have acquired has put me in a good position to take EFCC to another level.
Lamorde also hinted about the effort of the commission to deal with corrupt EFCC officials.
The EFCC boss agreed that “to some extent it is true” that there are corrupt EFCC operatives but added that the issue was seriously being addressed.
He noted that about three EFCC operatives are currently in detention on corruption charges while the commission has initiated prosecution process against two others in court.
To address corruption in the commission, Lamorde said that he decided to establish internal affairs department as well as to introduce polygraph test.
Operatives of the commission, he said, would be made to take the polygraph test at six months interval to curb corruption.
He noted that there is another system to determine whether the life style of an officer is commensurate with his or her take home pay.
He also agreed that over dramatisation at the point of arrest that used to be the order of the day has been dropped.
He said: “We have changed that method. Since I came on board three months ago, such things no longer occur. And I assure you it will not occur again.”
He listed poor funding as a major challenge the anti-graft agency faces, saying that the National Assembly has promised to look into it.
On relationship with the Code of Conduct Bureau, he noted that the commission has a very good working relationship with the Bureau just like they have with other anti graft agencies.
Lamorde also spoke on plea bargain. He said those who participated in arranging the plea bargain involving a former governor regretted the action.
There is corruption in EFCC – Lamorde
NEW Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, told the Senate on Wednesday that there were corrupt officials in the anti-graft agency.
Lamorde, while appearing before the Senate’s committee of the Whole House to defend his appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan, said the commission’s operatives were indeed involved in corrupt practices in their handling of corruption cases.
Lamorde’s appointment was confirmed by the Senate. He has been heading the anti-corruption commission since his predecessor, Farida Waziri, was sacked last November.
” We have asked him very deep questions and from the answers we got from him, we want to give him the benefit of doubt that he will perform and that the EFCC will do precisely what the Act has tasked them to do. At the end of the day, the country will be better off,” President of the Senate, David Mark, said in his remarks while confirming the appointment of the EFCC boss.
To tackle cases of corruption in the agency under his watch, Lamorde told the Senate that he had embarked on internal rearrangement to revamp the image of the commission.
He said, “Going forward, I have decided to establish an internal affairs department and the department of professional standards whereby every employee of the commission, including myself, will be vetted at entry into the agency and also periodically to see whether one’s lifestyle is commensurate with one’s income and if somebody is having a lifestyle that is unacceptable to the agency.
“I have decided to introduce a polygraph test for everybody. We are going to acquire machine and ask all of our staff to undergo polygraph test. There is no way an agency like the EFCC can go out and perform its functions when people out there are of the perception that corruption also has infested the commission.”
Lamorde also spoke on the need to strengthen existing anti-corruption agencies instead of establishing new ones. He however supported the establishment of a special court to ease the burden on regular courts dealing with corruption cases.
He said, “Considering our resources, I think what may be necessary is to strengthen existing agencies, to give them the tools to carry out their mandate. If we can do that and if all the agencies are doing what they should do, it will minimise corruption in our national life.
“The reason for the clamour for special courts for certain cases has to do with the processes of law. Judges have corrupt cases and other cases to attend to, but if we have special courts for corruption cases, it would facilitate the process. I don’t think it will be too much to ask that a special court be dedicated to corruption cases.”
According to him, the merger of the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission is not necessary as both agencies could operate separately to curtail corruption in the country.
He however added that the EFCC was gathering intelligence on the management of the scheme.
Lamorde noted that the commission and the police often swapped cases of corruption, depending on the nature of the cases and the agency which stood a better chance of tackling the case.
On the controversial exit of the pioneer Chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, Lamorde noted that actions against him were taken as a result of his position as a police officer and not as the chairman of the EFCC.
He also noted that the list of politicians drawn by the commission was meant to serve as an advisory list to politicians that might need to examine the candidates before fielding them for elections.
On former Vice-President, Abubakar Atiku, he said, “This list that most people say suggested that the commission was being used by the then President (Olusegun Obasanjo) to go after his perceived enemies, I know people made mention about the matter involving the former Vice-President; what has not been said is that that matter involving the Petroleum Trust Development Fund was not initiated by the EFCC.
“It was a mutual legal assistance request from the United States; and as a responsible country and government we are bound to respond to the request by other judicial authorities with which we have bilateral agreements. It was triggered by an investigation of a member of Congress, William Jefferson, who is in jail and he said he had an associate in Nigeria and that was how the investigation started.”
He said the commission had changed the method of over dramatisation of arrest of corruption suspects, noting that “such things no longer occur. We have changed that and I assure you it will not occur again.”
3 EFCC staff detained for corruption, says Lamorde
In a rare show of candour, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorode, admitted to the Senate that there is corruption among officials of the commission.
Lamorde said this when he appeared for his confirmatory screening on Wednesday. He, however, made a case for the establishment of special courts to deal with corrupt cases, adding that the plea bargain granted to former Edo State Governor was regrettable.
In a question and answer session, which held in the Committee of the Whole yesterday, Lamorde said steps had been taken to address the matter. “To some extent that (corruption in EFCC) is correct but since I assumed office as acting chairman; I have taken steps to address that issue. I have about three members of staff in detention on corruption cases.
“We have also initiated prosecution on two officers whose cases are in court. To further address the issue, I have decided to introduce polygraph tests (which) officers, including myself, should be made to take at six months interval to address that problem.”
In addition, Lamorde disclosed that the lifestyle of every EFCC staff “will be under scrutiny to ensure that it is in consonance with the office standards.”
On plea-bargaining, he said: “It is something that everybody that is involved has regretted. Awarding of punishment is the discretion of the judge. The judge can make a pronouncement that is contrary to your expectation.
“But whether I believe in the principle of plea bargaining or not, that depends on how it is carried out. It is really something that may be, people should have to sit down to discuss ways and manner it should be done but I don’t think we should jettison the idea of plea bargaining.
“The only thing is that if you are going on plea bargaining, there should be true declaration of assets and assets that is traced to the person should be seized. We have been able to achieve a lot through plea bargaining.”
In his response to questions that EFCC was used as a hounding dog in victimising politicians from contesting election, Lamorde noted that the intention was not for witch-hunt but to show political parties the quality of candidates they wanted to field. “It was an advice to political parties to look at candidates who wanted to contest. Perhaps they have some issues but it was perceived to have come from the past president to go after his enemies.”
Speaking after his confirmation, Senate President David Mark said the National Assembly would give Lamorde the benefit of the doubt on his proposed performance at the EFCC.
“From the answers we got from him, we want to give him the benefit of the doubt that he will perform and that the EFCC will do precisely what the Act has empowered them to do and at the end of the day, the country will be better off.”
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