“He Is No longer The Chairman Of EFCC So, Because Of That, He Thought That Would Be The End Of His Invitation” EFCC Lawyer, Festus Keyamo Defends Ex Anti Graft Commission Boss, Ibrahim Lamorde For Not Appearing Before Senate To Answer Charges On Alleged N1trillion Diversion

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission lawyer, Festus Keyamo has provided reasons why the former boss of the anti graft agency Ibrahim Lamorde failed to appear before the Senate to answer charges on alleged diversion of N1trillion while in office.

Keyamo representing Lamorde told the Senate ‘’ “He is no longer the chairman of EFCC. So, because of that, he thought that would be the end of his invitation because he was invited in that capacity ..’’

An activist, Dr. George Ubah, wrote a petition to that Senate claiming the Lamorde in his capacity as the EFCC Chairman diverted over N1 trillion recovered by the commission.
Ibrahim Lamorde

Lamorde was directed by the Presidency to proceed on terminal leave while the allegations raged.

The anti graft boss also slammed heavy money law cases on national publications that reported he is undergoing investigations for the alleged illegal funds diversions.

The Senate had vigorously pursued him to appear before it to provide explanations on the accusations made in the petition against him.

He was scheduled to appear before the Senate yesterday, Tuesday November 17 2015.

But lawyer to the commission he no longer heads, Festus Keyamo appeared in his stead.

And according to information sourced from thenation, Keyamo put up this defence for the non appearance of Lamorde
“He (Lamorde) is still a policeman, he has no reason to go on exile. Lamorde has served this country very well and let me tell you this if you don’t know. The only way to succeed as the chairman of EFCC is for you not to succeed at all.

“Lamorde is not here today, not out of disrespect to the committee. It is a matter of complete misunderstanding of issues at stake. When Lamorde was invited to this committee, he was invited as chairman of EFCC and between then and now circumstances had changed.

“He is no longer the chairman of EFCC. So, because of that, he thought that would be the end of his invitation because he was invited in that capacity.

“He then handed over the case and traveled for medicals. It was in his absence that the second letter came and addressed as the immediate past EFCC chairman. The fact that he is no longer the chairman, he can no longer be invited except as a witness.”

According to additional information sourced from the same platform members of the Senate disagreed with the lawyer’s position of ‘’no longer head of EFCC, no case again’’

A member of the committee in charge of Lamorde’s case, Senator Obinna Ogba reportedly wondered why the former head investigator of corrupt individuals and entities ‘’ failed to live by example being a man who was a former boss of the anti-graft agency that usually invited people to appear before it. ’’

While the Chairman, Senator Samuel Anyawu noted that the Senate does not accept representation when it invites anybody to appear before it.

Another member Senator Tayo Alasoadura reportedly ‘ queried the capacity in which Keyamo was in the Senate being a lawyer to the EFCC “and the man he claimed to represent is no longer in office as chairman.” ’

Societynowng.com learnt after intense exchange of words the stage was set for a major a major showdown between the Senate on one hand and the former EFCC boss and Keyamo on the other.
How?
The Senate insist Lamorde should appear before it on Tuesday November 24 2015 notwithstanding the plea by Keyamo that his client would not be available until Tuesday December 15 2015.