Lamorde’s probe over diversion of N1t splits Senate

The scheduled probe of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, over the alleged diversion of N1 trillion has split the Senate.
Larmode, according to a petition before the Senate, was accused of diverting N1 trillion said to have been recovered from a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Dipreye Alamieyeseigha; and a former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun.
The Senate thus called for his probe in the bid to establish the veracity of the claim and recovery of the fund if true.
But the Peoples Democratic Party has‎ kicked against the scheduled public hearing against the EFCC boss by the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions.
The caucus made its position known in a statement signed by Senators Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Phillip Aduda (FCT), Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba) and Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti).
The statement said: “It has come to the notice of the PDP leadership in the Senate that the Senate Committee on Public Petitions would begin a public hearing on Wednesday, 26th of August 2015 and the Committee has invited the Chairman of EFCC to appear before it.
“The PDP leadership in the Senate is not against any committee of the Senate performing its oversight duties and or functions but we feel that this is not the appropriate time to embark on this most important assignment, particularly since this same action was mooted and has failed at previous plenary session.
“We therefore urge the committee to suspend its public hearing on this particular matter until further notice.
“The PDP Senate leadership reassures the Nigerian public of its support for the war against corruption by the Federal Government of Nigeria but hastens to add that such fight against corruption should be total and not selective.
“Nigerians need peace at this period of economic challenges precipitated by the falling oil prices and actions that will overheat the polity and generate unnecessary friction between the Executive and the Legislature should be guided.”