28th October, 2015
Nigeria’s lower chamber, the House of Representatives on Tuesday asked its committee on Financial Crimes to probe the alleged non-remittance of assets and funds worth over N1 trillion which was ordered by courts at different times to be forfeited to the Federal government by suspects tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
This followed a motion under matters of national importance moved by Rep Leo Ogor, PDP tagged: “Urgent Need to investigate the Non-remittance of Court-forfeited Funds and Properties by the EFCC into Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation and for other Related Matters.”
While moving the motion, the lawmakers make reference to a petition by one George Uboh in which it was alleged that incumbent and past leaders of the EFCC diverted over N1 trillion recovered from accused persons through the directives of the courts.
“The past and present leadership of the EFCC is being accused of diversion of funds worth billions of naira meant to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation as stipulated by Section 31 subsection 2 and 3 of the EFCC Act of 2004”.
Ogor also noted that reports in the media indicated that the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Justice has directed the EFCC to investigate the allegation against Ibrahim Lamorde and to forward the result of its investigation to him”.
But he noted that other agency can handle the investigations since the the EFCC is not the only agency of government charged with investigations that bother on diversion of funds by public officers”.
He added that to thoroughly investigate the allegation of diversion of funds, the leadership of EFCC and other members of staff of the anti graft agency must be investigated while emphasizing that by the powers conferred on the House by Section 88(I) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the House, just like the police and the ICPC can investigate the diversion of funds by Lamorde, past and present leaders of the EFCC.
The presiding officer, Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun put the motion to a voice vote with the lawmakers giving their overwhelming support to the move. The lawmakers also directed the Solicitor-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Justice to re-assign the investigation of the petition of George Uboh against the EFCC to either the ICPC or the Police.
Reports on Tuesday indicated that the Federal Ministry of Justice had in a letter signed by the Director, Public Prosecutions, Muhammad Diri, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary dated October 8, 2015, directed the EFCC to investigate the allegations of diversion against Lamorde contained in the petition by Oboh and forward the report of investigation to him “as soon as it is completed.”
The letter addressed to the petitioner with reference number, DPPA/PET/EFCC/006/2008 reads: “I refer to your letter dated the 28th September, 2015, in respect of the above mentioned subject matter.
“I am directed to inform you that your petition has been sent to the EFCC for their response to the allegation contained therein. The commission has been directed by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary to forward the result of its investigation as soon as it is completed. Accept please, the assurances of the highest regards of the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary.”