– Says he will appear before the Senate or any of its Committees if a court directs him to do so
The former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde has asked the police and other law enforcement agencies to disregard the warrant of arrest issued on him by the Senate.
Ibrahim Lamorde
Lamorde, in a release by his lawyer Festus Keyamo, on Thursday, February 25 said the Senate’s order for his arrest was illegal as it relates to the outcome of a matter pending in court, Premium Times Reports.
“We most respectfully urge the Nigeria Police Force to await the outcome of the matter pending in court before deciding one way or the other about the enforcement of the said Warrant of Arrest, if eventually issued,” he said.
“If the court decides otherwise against our position, our client is prepared to appear before the Senate or any of its Committees,” the statement added.
The Senate on Thursday, February 25 decided on a resolution to issue an arrest warrant on Ibrahim Lamorde following his failure to appear before its committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions investigating him for alleged corruption.
Lamode had failed on three occasions honour invitations from the Senate committee on August 26, 2015, November 5, 2015, and November 11, 2015.
He thereafter instituted a legal action at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on November 19 seeking an interpretation of the powers of the Senate with respect to the investigations. He said he would only appear before the Senate or any of its committees if the court decides against him.
Lamorde, a commissioner of police was removed as EFCC chairman in November last year, four years after he took over as head of the anti-graft agency.
Three months earlier, a petitioner, George Uboh accused Lamorde of diverting about N1 trillion proceeds of corruption recovered by the EFCC, prompting a Senate committee to commence an investigation.
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