Recovered Assets: Lamorde Set to Appear Before House of Representatives Tomorrow

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde will on Wednesday July 17 appear before the House of Representatives Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes which is conducting a public hearing to determine the status of assets seized or recovered by the EFCC since inception. Though Lamorde was scheduled to appear before the committee today, he was unable to do so due to some prior commitment. He however sent a letter of apology to the Committee. The letter was delivered by a team of top EFCC management led by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Bukar Abba. He told the Committee that Lamorde travelled to Lagos for an earlier scheduled appointment and therefore pleaded with the Committee to allow him appear at another date.

Bukar told the Committee led by its chairman, Jagaba Adams Jagaba that the Lamorde holds the Committee in high esteem and would be ready to appear before it as soon as he returns to Abuja on Tuesday. The Committee therefore directs that the EFCC chairman appears before it on Wednesday, July 17.

 The Committee also directed that the chief executive officers of the various organizations which are scheduled to appear before it come in person and not delegate subordinate officers.

Earlier Jagaba said the committee was carrying out its legislative functions to ensure proper accountability in public sector, a view that was corroborated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal represented by the Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor who delivered the opening address. He posited that one of the most crucial areas of democracy was holding government institutions accountable to the people and allowing citizens participation in government.

Chairman of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA who appeared before the committee gave a brief narrative of the relationship between the EFCC and NDLEA. He said from 2006 to date, the agency handed over a total of 70 cases involving money laundering to the Commission to investigate with over $2 million (genuine dollars) and $7 million (fake) involved in the transactions.

Kunle Lasisi, who works for an audit firm that audited the EFCC in 2011said based on the scope of his work, the Commission kept proper books of account. Questioned severally on why he did not audit the recovery accounts of the Commission, Lasisi insisted that they only worked within the scope of their mandate which covered only funds appropriated by the National Assembly.

Wilson Uwujaren

Ag. Head, Media & Publicity

15^th July, 2013