In a rare show of candour, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorode, admitted to the Senate that there is corruption among officials of the commission.
Lamorde said this when he appeared for his confirmatory screening on Wednesday. He, however, made a case for the establishment of special courts to deal with corrupt cases, adding that the plea bargain granted to former Edo State Governor was regrettable.

In a question and answer session, which held in the Committee of the Whole yesterday, Lamorde said steps had been taken to address the matter. “To some extent that (corruption in EFCC) is correct but since I assumed office as acting chairman; I have taken steps to address that issue. I have about three members of staff in detention on corruption cases.
“We have also initiated prosecution on two officers whose cases are in court. To further address the issue, I have decided to introduce polygraph tests (which) officers, including myself, should be made to take at six months interval to address that problem.”

In addition, Lamorde disclosed that the lifestyle of every EFCC staff “will be under scrutiny to ensure that it is in consonance with the office standards.”
On plea-bargaining, he said: “It is something that everybody that is involved has regretted. Awarding of punishment is the discretion of the judge. The judge can make a pronouncement that is contrary to your expectation.
“But whether I believe in the principle of plea bargaining or not, that depends on how it is carried out. It is really something that may be, people should have to sit down to discuss ways and manner it should be done but I don’t think we should jettison the idea of plea bargaining.

“The only thing is that if you are going on plea bargaining, there should be true declaration of assets and assets that is traced to the person should be seized. We have been able to achieve a lot through plea bargaining.”
In his response to questions that EFCC was used as a hounding dog in victimising politicians from contesting election, Lamorde noted that the intention was not for witch-hunt but to show political parties the quality of candidates they wanted to field. “It was an advice to political parties to look at candidates who wanted to contest. Perhaps they have some issues but it was perceived to have come from the past president to go after his enemies.”
Speaking after his confirmation, Senate President David Mark said the National Assembly would give Lamorde the benefit of the doubt on his proposed performance at the EFCC.

A step in the right direction.

Nice one, charity begings at home