Buhari Sets To Sack EFCC Boss, Lamorde

There are strong indications that President Muhammadu Buhari may be considering the sack of Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, over non-performance and the Federal Government’s zeal to strengthen the fight against corruption in the country.

A highly placed security source, who spoke on the grounds of anonymity, told Nigerian Pilot Sunday, that the President is currently looking for Lamorde’s replacement.

The new anti-graft boss will emerge as soon as Buhari gets a new Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in October, this year.

Those that might likely replace Lamorde include, the current FCT police commissioner, Wilson Inalegu; present chief principal officer to the Inspector General of police, IGP, CP Austin Iwar and Assistant Inspector general of police, AIG, Tunde Ogunshakin, who was the former Head of Operation of EFCC when Farida Waziri was in charge of the commission as well as CP in charge of Special fraud Unit, SFU, of the Police, Milerton Road, Ikoyi Lagos.

“Yes, it is true. President Buhari is seriously considering the sack of the EFCC Chairman, Lamorde. You will agree with me that the EFCC under him is not working. “There are several cases of corruption not tackled and you know that it is not good for someone who is supposed to lead the fight against corruption.

“In fact, I can authoritatively tell you that Mr. President is quietly shopping for his replacement: Mr. President needs someone that will be bold and sincere in the anti- corruption war. Buhari wants somebody who will be bold enough to ask him the right questions and investigate even his own aides. He does not want dirty deals.”

The source further added that the Presidency is inundated with petitions on the activities of the Anti-corruption agency, a situation that compelled him to embark on secret investigations on the matter.

“Since assumption as president over 50 petitions have been written to government complaining about the activities of the leadership of EFCC. The petitions became so much that the President has personally decided to investigate the allegations. His special team, which is headed by one Col. Hamid (rtd), has commenced a probe as well as covert operations that will lead to the emergence of the new EFCC boss.

When asked by this paper about the statutory five-year tenure of the EFCC boss, a lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigerian, SAN, said that a lot of bad precedence has been set already on the issue and anything can happen.

“ If you recall what happened to Nuhu Ribadu, during the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Farida Waziri of Jonathan’s administration. Anything can as well happen to Lamorde latest before November ending I can tell you authoritatively.”

When contacted the head media and publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said that he was not aware of such development.