The alleged fraud was dated back to when he was the director of
operations of the EFCC from 2003 to 2007 and as acting chairman of the
commission between June 2007 and May 2008.
On Wednesday August 26, Lamorde was probed by the senate committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to defend himself but urged it to reschedule his appearance to enable him secure more time to gather documents required for presentation before the committee.
However, he was expected to appear before the senate on Tuesday, November 17 but he never show up, although he sent his cousel Festus Keyamo to represent him.
This caused a heated exchange between Keyamo and the angered committee members who said he failed to show up because he was avoiding the committee.
Furthermore, Sam Anyawu, the chairman of the committee to order Lamorde to appear before the senate unfailingly by next Tuesday, November 24. This senator in a chat with Naij.com aired his views. Read excerpts below.
This week, you gave the lawyer of the EFCC chairman an ultimatum to report on Tuesday. In the event that he does not come on Tuesday, what action will the committee take?
First of all, i hate pre-empting issues. I like to take things as they come.We just gave our instruction and a directive that the former chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde should appear before the committee which of course is the proceedure. If he does not come, the committee will still meet to be able to know what next line of actiion to take.
The Lawyer said that the senate has no right to summon him as an individual and cited section 88 and 89. What is your take on this?
Well like i said earlier, i would not want the committee to join issues with a lawyer because he is not appearing before a committee, he is only coming in representative capacity for his client so there is no need to join issues with him. I believe that he is a very responsible lawyer who knows his onions and of course should not decieve the public. There is a parliamentary protest and that is to say that we have power. I am sure he is not going to rewrite the constitution of Nigeria. The senate, house of representative or any committee of both arms of legislative arms of government has power to summon anybody in Nigeria in any matter they are investigating.
Even if he is the former chairman of EFCC, we still have the right t summon him in the matters that have to do with EFCC. If that is not the case, why does EFCC keep inviting former governors even when they are out of office. So i think he is just trying to play to the gallery. Like i said, i would not want us to drag issues with him. The committee has met. I told him that the committee is not a lawcourt but a fact finding committee. When we receive petitions, we invite the petitioners to scum before the committee and substantiate this petitions.
Then we invite correspondents to come. Before you are invited, we
give you an advanced copy of the petition so you can prepare and be
able to defend yourself either orally or written. That is the
parliamentary purchase. We know that people can wake up one morning and
begin to plant petitions on innocent people. We look at petitions based
on their merits and demerits, but if we find a petition frivolous, of
course we will discharge it. I think that in this Lamorde’s issue is one
petition that this committee is in that route. We have over 42
petitions and these are high profile people. So his case is not
different. We know that probably because of his position he occupies,
too many people are already on his danger list to give a cover up. I am
doing my job as the chairman of the committee. I am responsible to the
senate. Any recommendation or report of the senate, the committee goes
to the senate to discuss for acceptance or dismissal.
I think this issue has been celebrated and brought a lot of controversy. We have invited the Inspector General of Police, the Comptroller General of customs, the executives of MDAs and they appeared before the committees. All we are doing is to check the checks and balance and oversight functions. I believe this government is fighting corruption and other arms of government is assisting the executive in fighting corruption. It is about the senate as a constitution and we all have a book that guides everyone which is the constitution. We know how we operate at the plenary, committees and the constituencies. It is not about the members of the committees but about the senate. So Lamorde’s case should not be something to bother about. Again, because he belongs to a class we call the politically exposed persons, when such matters happen we manage it and ensure we follow due process. The National Assembly has the competence to summon.
Would you have given an ordinary citizen the grace you are giving to the former EFCC chairman?
We have done that severally. Firstly, most of the petitions we have received, we have been able to return people back to their positions because they were wrongfully dismissed. They did not have people to talk for them, no money to go to court and they are ordinary Nigerians. Because we are representing the people, we had to investigate why they were wrongfully dismissed. Some of them, out of fear of prosecution cannot come out to say the problem. If a warning that such person should be victims because he has brought his case to the senate. We are the voice of the voiceless.
During the screening, your committee made recommendations which was not adhered to or obeyed , does it still give you the confidence to continue?
The first question even though events have overtaken that, as i said earlier, the senate has a right to summon anyone. But the report of the nominee cannot be faulted by anyone. Everything has to do with political will. I dont have any issues with anyone. I am only just doing my job as being given to me with all due respect. As i have always said, i am one man no one can put in the bucket. I am only doing my job. I think the report was the best. If it was not well done, we would have done a lot of condemnation from the press. We must grow beyond part sentiments because we are senators of the Republic of Nigeria. If i know what i am doing is the best within my conscience then i dont care what anyone thinks and i leave the rest to God.
With how bombarded your committee with a lot of petitions, is it because they have confidence in you?
If people do not have confidence in this committee, they will be demoralised to send in petitions. Even my colleagues know that the committees are working. The day the leader of the senate appeared before my committee, he was enthused. I have very dedicated members as well. I am elected by the people so i have to discharge my duties. I take tax payers money.I am not one of those people who just collect salary at the end of the month and not do anything. Once you are doing well, people will commend you.
The petition against the Code of Conduct Tribunal boss has been referred to your committee, no matter the recommendation you make, it will be taken politically. What is your take on this?
I have not seen the petition and i have not read it. It was only laid on the floor of the senate. It has not been refered yet from the referal office. Once it comes be rest assured that i will look at it and of course i will write my report. I am not doing anybody’s bidding. As far as i am concerned, every other senator has his or her committee and has to do it to the best of their ability. I have enough time to read, do fact finding and come out with a position. Why will Saraki use me or any senator to do his bidding. He is my colleague but he is just the senate president. He was elected by his own constituency the same way i was. There is nothing you wont do in this world that people will not complain. The most important thing is your conscience.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Lamorde, the former EFCC boss has filed a law suit against the senate by his counsel Festus Keyamo.
Before a Federal High Court in Abuja, Lamorde is challenging the powers of the Senate to summon him over alleged corruption and those joined as defendants in the suit are the Senate, Senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
On Wednesday August 26, Lamorde was probed by the senate committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to defend himself but urged it to reschedule his appearance to enable him secure more time to gather documents required for presentation before the committee.
However, he was expected to appear before the senate on Tuesday, November 17 but he never show up, although he sent his cousel Festus Keyamo to represent him.
This caused a heated exchange between Keyamo and the angered committee members who said he failed to show up because he was avoiding the committee.
Furthermore, Sam Anyawu, the chairman of the committee to order Lamorde to appear before the senate unfailingly by next Tuesday, November 24. This senator in a chat with Naij.com aired his views. Read excerpts below.
This week, you gave the lawyer of the EFCC chairman an ultimatum to report on Tuesday. In the event that he does not come on Tuesday, what action will the committee take?
First of all, i hate pre-empting issues. I like to take things as they come.We just gave our instruction and a directive that the former chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde should appear before the committee which of course is the proceedure. If he does not come, the committee will still meet to be able to know what next line of actiion to take.
The Lawyer said that the senate has no right to summon him as an individual and cited section 88 and 89. What is your take on this?
Well like i said earlier, i would not want the committee to join issues with a lawyer because he is not appearing before a committee, he is only coming in representative capacity for his client so there is no need to join issues with him. I believe that he is a very responsible lawyer who knows his onions and of course should not decieve the public. There is a parliamentary protest and that is to say that we have power. I am sure he is not going to rewrite the constitution of Nigeria. The senate, house of representative or any committee of both arms of legislative arms of government has power to summon anybody in Nigeria in any matter they are investigating.
Even if he is the former chairman of EFCC, we still have the right t summon him in the matters that have to do with EFCC. If that is not the case, why does EFCC keep inviting former governors even when they are out of office. So i think he is just trying to play to the gallery. Like i said, i would not want us to drag issues with him. The committee has met. I told him that the committee is not a lawcourt but a fact finding committee. When we receive petitions, we invite the petitioners to scum before the committee and substantiate this petitions.
I think this issue has been celebrated and brought a lot of controversy. We have invited the Inspector General of Police, the Comptroller General of customs, the executives of MDAs and they appeared before the committees. All we are doing is to check the checks and balance and oversight functions. I believe this government is fighting corruption and other arms of government is assisting the executive in fighting corruption. It is about the senate as a constitution and we all have a book that guides everyone which is the constitution. We know how we operate at the plenary, committees and the constituencies. It is not about the members of the committees but about the senate. So Lamorde’s case should not be something to bother about. Again, because he belongs to a class we call the politically exposed persons, when such matters happen we manage it and ensure we follow due process. The National Assembly has the competence to summon.
Would you have given an ordinary citizen the grace you are giving to the former EFCC chairman?
We have done that severally. Firstly, most of the petitions we have received, we have been able to return people back to their positions because they were wrongfully dismissed. They did not have people to talk for them, no money to go to court and they are ordinary Nigerians. Because we are representing the people, we had to investigate why they were wrongfully dismissed. Some of them, out of fear of prosecution cannot come out to say the problem. If a warning that such person should be victims because he has brought his case to the senate. We are the voice of the voiceless.
During the screening, your committee made recommendations which was not adhered to or obeyed , does it still give you the confidence to continue?
The first question even though events have overtaken that, as i said earlier, the senate has a right to summon anyone. But the report of the nominee cannot be faulted by anyone. Everything has to do with political will. I dont have any issues with anyone. I am only just doing my job as being given to me with all due respect. As i have always said, i am one man no one can put in the bucket. I am only doing my job. I think the report was the best. If it was not well done, we would have done a lot of condemnation from the press. We must grow beyond part sentiments because we are senators of the Republic of Nigeria. If i know what i am doing is the best within my conscience then i dont care what anyone thinks and i leave the rest to God.
With how bombarded your committee with a lot of petitions, is it because they have confidence in you?
If people do not have confidence in this committee, they will be demoralised to send in petitions. Even my colleagues know that the committees are working. The day the leader of the senate appeared before my committee, he was enthused. I have very dedicated members as well. I am elected by the people so i have to discharge my duties. I take tax payers money.I am not one of those people who just collect salary at the end of the month and not do anything. Once you are doing well, people will commend you.
The petition against the Code of Conduct Tribunal boss has been referred to your committee, no matter the recommendation you make, it will be taken politically. What is your take on this?
I have not seen the petition and i have not read it. It was only laid on the floor of the senate. It has not been refered yet from the referal office. Once it comes be rest assured that i will look at it and of course i will write my report. I am not doing anybody’s bidding. As far as i am concerned, every other senator has his or her committee and has to do it to the best of their ability. I have enough time to read, do fact finding and come out with a position. Why will Saraki use me or any senator to do his bidding. He is my colleague but he is just the senate president. He was elected by his own constituency the same way i was. There is nothing you wont do in this world that people will not complain. The most important thing is your conscience.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Lamorde, the former EFCC boss has filed a law suit against the senate by his counsel Festus Keyamo.
Before a Federal High Court in Abuja, Lamorde is challenging the powers of the Senate to summon him over alleged corruption and those joined as defendants in the suit are the Senate, Senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
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