Ex-EFCC Boss Larmode Sick, Flown Abroad For Treatment.

Former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, has been flown abroad for medical attention, even as the Senate threatens the immediate past anti-graft boss with arrest.

Lamorde had‎ been absent for the third time from the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges currently investigating alleged mismanagement of N1.3 trillion proceed recovered by anti-graft agency.

Festus Keyamo, the lawyer who represented Lamorde at the hearing of a petition against the former EFCC boss, informed the lawmakers that his client’s absence was due to some health issues.

He said that Lamorde, who is being accused of diversion of funds, was abroad for medical treatment and will not be back earlier than December, 6th.

Keyamo argued that Larmode’s invitation was in his capacity as EFCC boss and every invitation became a nullity following his removal as EFCC boss.
According to Keyamo, Senate has no powers to invite anybody in Nigeria to give evidence but can summon somebody as a witness.

He insists that as soon as Larmode was relieved of his duties as the Chairman of EFCC, he can be summoned by Senate only as a witness.

However, Samuel Anyanwu, chairman of the committee, insisted on Tuesday that Lamorde must appear before it on a final date, which is November 24.

Speaking, Senator Dino Melaye, a member of the committee, pointed out that committee had the powers to summon the former EFCC, emphasising that its constitutional powers must not be undermined.

He warned that the senate should not be coerced into issuing a bench warrant for the arrest of the former anti-graft czar.

Also speaking, Senator Obinna Ogba, another member of the committee, described Lamorde’s failure to come before the committee as an insult to the national assembly. “Enough is enough,” he said.
But Keyamo faulted the statements of the committee, saying that Lamorde had become a private citizen whom the senate had no jurisdiction over.

“The senate has no jurisdiction over private citizens. Lamorde’s failure to appear before the committee is because he thought as a private citizen the case has ended with his exit from the EFCC,” he said.

Addressing newsmen immediately after a brief interaction with the committee, Keyamo said that the committee was ignorant of its powers.

“The senate doesn’t know its powers. I will do all I can to correct this. The senate has no power to summon a private citizen for investigation,” he said