President Muhammadu Buhari is not considering a second term for the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan had on November 23, 2011 named Lamorde the commission’s acting chairman, while the Senate confirmed him on February 15, 2012.
Lamorde, who succeeded Mrs. Farida Waziri as the chairman, will complete his four-year term next month.
Punch reports that the decision of Buhari to appoint another chairman for the commission was because of the lull in the EFCC’s activities over the years.
“The impression is that the commission under Lamorde has been sleeping since. Their recent publicised activities are seen as just ways of impressing the President and the man (Buhari) cannot be fooled,” a source told the newspaper.
The source, however, said it was not clear yet who the President was considering to take over from Lamorde.
Lamorde is accused of diversion of over N1trillion from the sale of confiscated properties belonging to convicted public officials, including a former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyesiegha and a former Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, among others.
A petition on the allegations were submitted by one George Uboh, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on August 23.
The source, however, said Buhari did not necessarily have to order for his probe when the Senate was already investigating the same matter.
“The President does not need to order a probe of what is already a subject of the Senate’s investigation.
“Since the man is leaving office next month, it is natural that politics of succession would have started and that may be responsible for the reports.
“Those who think the President may be considering a renewal of tenure for him will naturally come up with such reports,” he added.
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