Senate to order arrest of Ibrahim Lamorde: over N1trn fraud

The senate senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions may  issue a warrant for the arrest former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, after shunning its invitation.

The committee had summoned Lamorde three times over an alleged diversion of N1trn recovered by the commission under him, but he failure to turn up.

The senate today, February 25, directed the committee's chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, to request warrant for Lamorde's arrest from the senate president, Bukola Saraki.

In its report, the committee had earlier asked the senate to adopt its resolution for the arrest of Lamorde.

While presenting the report to the senate, Anyanwu said:“The committee, having waited in vain for the appearance of Mr Ibrahim Larmode since 24 November, 2015, was forced to conclude that he wants to evade investigation,” Anyanwu said while presenting the report of the committee.

“The only way to get the former EFCC chairman to appear before the committee is to invoke the powers of the senate in section 89 (1C and D) of the 1999 constitution.

“The committee is convinced that unless this line of action is taken, the national assembly might be drawn into consequential disrepute in the future.”

Therefore, he recommended that a warrant of arrest be issued for former EFCC boss

However, citing section 89 of the 1999 constitution, the deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said the committee has the power to request the arrest, adding that section 89(4) also gave the committee the power to ensure that the person being arrested is made to pay the cost of arresting him.

Ekweremadu said what the committee is required to do is to issue a warrant of arrest and then the president of the senate will direct the police to effect the arrest.