By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has described the late erstwhile chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde as an epitome of diligence during his time as head of the agency.
Olukoyede, in a heartfelt tribute to the late Lamorde on Monday, expressed deep sorrow upon learning of his demise, saying the loss is ‘painful coming at a time the EFCC and indeed Nigeria still needed his wealth of experience to deal with emerging challenges in the law enforcement environment”.
The Nigerian anti-corruption community was thrown into mourning Sunday, with the news of the passing of former chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, at the age of 61. Mr Lamorde died in Egypt where he had travelled for medical treatment. His death was confirmed by close associates, although the exact cause of his death is yet to be disclosed.
“His footprints in the Nigeria Police and the EFCC where he spent his most productive years, first as Director of Operations and later as Acting Chairman and Executive Chairman, will remain indelible”, Olukoyede said, adding that the story of the Commission cannot be told without a reference to Lamorde who invested his talent as an investigator in setting up the investigation machinery of the Commission and mentoring the corps of officers who are today the spine of the Commission’s investigative activities.
Olukoyede further described the late Lamorde as “a refined officer, disciplined, unassuming, amiable, compassionate but professional. He was also a reformist and his legacy in the Commission include the establishment of the professional responsibility arm of the Commission, the Department of Internal Affairs, which was recently renamed the Department of Ethics and Integrity, to police officers of the Commission, and the Department of Public Affairs to drive the Commission corruption prevention mandate”.
The EFCC chief explained that Lamorde also renamed EFCC’s Training and Research Institute, Karu as the EFCC Academy with an expanded mandate to train all cadre of officers of the Commission and other law enforcement agencies in Nigeria and Indeed, Africa.
“Under his stewardship the EFCC Academy became the centre for anti- corruption training in West Africa.
All of us in the EFCC feel deeply the loss of this soldier of anti-corruption. Our hearts are with his family and all those whose lives he impacted in his remarkable career. We share your bereavement in the loss of this icon. You can be assured that our thoughts and prayers are with you in your grief.
“The memory of Lamorde’s lifetime as a police officer and statesman in the service of the highest ideals will remain a legacy of inspiration to us all”, he said.
