Funds’ diversion: EFCC’s probe is illegal – Unity Forum

The Senate Unity Forum on Wednesday faulted the invitation of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

The Forum said the invitation was illegal and a breach of the Senate Standing Rules.

It said there is no record indicating that the petition by Mr. George Uboh, was presented to the Senate in plenary.

It asked the Senate leadership to halt the ongoing probe of the EFCC by the committee.

The Forum made its position known in a statement signed by Senator Ahmed Lawan, Senator George Akume, Senator Abu Ibrahim and Senator Barnabas Gemade.

The statement said: “The Senate Unity Forum hereby declares that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions probe of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde is illegal and a breach of the Senate Standing Rules.

“In standard parliamentary practice, a petition is routed through either a Senator or a member of the House of Representatives. Upon receipt of such petition, the representative will inform the presiding officer of the chamber and, thereafter, present the petition in plenary.

“Upon presentation in plenary, the presiding officer will invite the Senator/Representative to lay the same petition on the table in the chamber, which automatically becomes a public document.

“Thereafter, the presiding officer will refer the petition to the appropriate committee for consideration upon which it would be returned to the Senate in plenary.

“In this regard, nothing of the sort happened. Senate proceeded on recess on August 13 and it is not on record that the petition of Mr. George Uboh, accusing Lamorde of diverting over N1 trillion recovered from some corrupt Nigerians, including the former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and the former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun was presented to Senate in plenary.”

The Senate Unity Forum urged the Senate leadership to halt the probe of the EFCC.