House to probe EFCC for non-remittance of N1trn

House of Representatives on Tuesday directed its Committee on Financial Crimes to probe the alleged non-remittance of court forfeited properties and funds by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC running into N1trillion.
The House also called on the Solicitor-General of the Federal Ministry of Justice to re-assign the investigation of the petition of George Uboh against the EFCC to either the ICPC or the Police.
The resolution followed a motion of matters of national public importance titled: ‘Urgent Need to Investigate the Non-remittance of Court-forfeited Funds and Properties by the EFCC Into Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation and for other Related Matters’ sponsored by Hon. Leo Ogor, (PDP, Delta).
In his lead debate, Ogor argued that there was a subsisting petition by Hon. George Uboh against present and past leaders of the EFCC over diversion of funds that the Senate was investigating.
The House Minority Leader noted that the past and present leadership of the EFCC was accused of diversion of funds worth billions of naira meant to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation as stipulated in Section 31 subsection 2 and 3 of the EFCC Act of 2004.
The lawmaker further stressed that the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice had directed the EFCC to investigate the allegation against Ibrahim Lamorde and forward the result of its investigation to him.
He also expressed concern that the EFCC was not the only agency of government charged with investigations that bother on diversion of funds by public officers.
According to him, “to thoroughly investigate the allegation of diversion of this huge sum of alleged trillions of naira, other members of staff of the EFCC must be investigated.
“By the powers conferred on the House by Section 88(I) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the House, just like the police and the ICPC can investigate the diversion of funds by Lamorde, past and present leaders of the EFCC”.
It would be recalled that the Ministry of Justice, in a directive to the EFCC, directed the anti-graft agency to investigate the allegation against Lamorde and forward the report of investigation to him.
The letter addressed to the petitioner with reference number, DPPA/PET/EFCC/006/2008 reads: “I refer to your letter dated the 28th September, 2015, in respect of the above mentioned subject matter.
“I am directed to inform you that your petition has been sent to the EFCC for their response to the allegation contained therein. The commission has been directed by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary to forward the result of its investigation as soon as it is completed. Accept please, the assurances of the highest regards of the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary.”