Former EFCC Chairman, Lamorde, Is Asking The Court To Stop Senate From Ordering His Arrest

The immediate past Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, has approached a Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking an order restraining security agents from arresting him.

According to court documents made available by Festus Keyamo, his lawyer, Mr. Lamorde is also seeking an order setting aside all letters of invitation issued against him by the National Assembly to appear before them.

“An order of injunction against the 1st and 2nd Defendants restraining them from issuing any Warrant for the ?arrest of the Plaintiff without first issuing a Summons to the Plaintiff,” read Mr. Lamorde’s originating summons.

Joined in the suit are the Senate; the Senate Committee on Ethic?s, Privileges and Public Petitions, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General, Department of State Services as first, second, third, and fourth Defendants respectively.

Mr. Lamorde, a police officer, was removed as EFCC chairman on November 9, four years after he took over as head of the anti-graft agency.
The former EFCC boss? has been replaced by Ibrahim Magu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police and a former Head of the Economic Governance Unit of the agency, who was appointed in acting capacity.

Last August, a petitioner, George Uboh, accused Mr. Lamorde of diverting about N1 trillion proceeds of corruption recovered by the agency, prompting a Senate committee to commence an investigation.

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions invited Mr. Lamorde to a “meeting” on August 26 but the former EFCC boss failed to attend.

Another letter of invitation from the Senate committee was sent to Mr. Lamorde proposing another meeting for November 5.
Again, Mr. Lamorde was unable to attend the meeting.