GROUP TASK EFCC NEW BOSS ON CASES OF EX-GOVERNORS, OTHERS
An Abuja based Non Governmental Organisation; the Society for Rule of Law in Nigeria (SRLN) has said actions of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde and not “beautifully coined speeches” would bring back the trust Nigerians used to have in the anti-corruption agency, saying; “What Nigerians desire is a return to the zeal and commitment with which the EFCC carried out the task of ridding Nigeria of corruption during the regime of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and not rhetoric.”
The group said Lamorde's comment that; “the EFCC needs internal cleansing because things have really gone wrong” was an indictment on the EFCC boss himself because he has been a major player in the commission since inception.
The SRLN said in a statement issued today by its Coordinator, Comrade Chima Ubeku that Lamorde must go beyond rhetoric and exhume all cases that were investigated when Malam Nuhu Ribadu was the commission's boss, especially those that Ribadu said had “international dimension.”
“The question Larmode must answer is “Where are the case files of those former governors whose corruption according to Ribadu were of international dimension?
“Such cases were those of former governors of Lagos and Delta States, Senator Bola Tinubu and Chief James Ibori respectively.
“We are aware that case files on Tinubu, in particular had developed wings and flew away from EFCC custody and for Larmode to be taken serious, he must tell Nigerians what happened to the files and the international dimension that Ribadu said the case had,” the group said.
While expressing worry over the level of rots in the EFCC, SRLN said; “Nigerians no longer have trust in the commission and with Lamorde's statement, the commission no longer have trust in itself.
“This is worrisome and the EFCC acting chairman must start wielding the big stick and show those that are aiding and abetting corruption in the commission the exit door.
“For instance, many staff of the commission are said to have turned themselves into brokers for corrupt people. It has even been alleged that the commission's spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi is a close ally of Tinubu.
“Therefore, Lamorde must begin to act now and move away from the usual Nigeria's speechmaking and less action style, and the only way for the EFCC boss to be taking serious by exhuming all the buried case files in the commission.”