The Federal Government has debunked media reports, claiming that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been directed to investigate its chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde.
The media was awash with reports on Tuesday that the Federal Ministry of Justice had directed the EFCC to commence investigation into the allegation that Lamorde diverted about N1 trillion proceeds of corruption recovered by the anti-graft agency.
The reports said the request was in response to a petition sent by one George Uboh to the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abdullahi Yola, who allegedly gave the probe order.
But the Ministry of Justice, in a statement by its spokesperson, Charles Nwodo, acknowledged receiving a petition against Lamorde and other top officials of the EFCC but insisted that the media report was “erroneous and misleading.”
It clarified that what the Ministry did after receiving the petition “as required by the rules of public service and constitutional right to fair hearing” was to pass the petition to Lamorde for response.
The ministry however disclosed that it was still awaiting the response of the EFCC chairman.
Mr. Uboh is said to have written to the justice ministry threatening legal action should it fail to “sanction” the leadership of the EFCC.
The ministry responded to Mr. Uboh’s letter through its Director, Public Prosecutions, Muhammad Diri, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, who said he was directed to inform Mr. Uboh that his petition “has been sent to the EFCC for their response to the allegation contained therein.”
Comments