The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 availed that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, would on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 appear before the upper chamber to answer questions regarding alleged diversion of about N1 trillion in proceeds recovered from corrupt persons.
Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East) made the assertion while talking to newsmen, adding that although his party was against Lamorde’s probe, he takes “directives only from the Senate leadership.”
He said: “As the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, I am answerable to the Senate in the first instance. This committee attends to every petition that comes from the public and the invitation to the EFCC boss is one of those petitions and the petitioner is going to appear before the committee.
“This is a standing committee of the Senate. It is not only the EFCC boss that has been invited, there are other petitions and we have invited the petitioners and those that are petitioned.
“We are guided by the Senate Standing Rule and the 1999 Constitution to invite anybody when the matter arises.”
He also debunked claims by EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren that his committee did not follow due process in Lamorde’s planned probe.
His words: “That (allegation) is not correct. There are ways petitions can come to the Senate. A petitioner can write straight to the Senate President and the President will send it to the appropriate committee that is involved.”
Anyanwu also addressed media reports that Lamorde may not honour the Senate’s invitation saying: “I cannot conclude that (Senate action against Lamorde) now because I will be pre-empting what is not available. Let’s wait until tomorrow (Wednesday) to know what the Senate will do if he doesn’t come. He is not summoned, this is an invitation.”
Anyanwu said the committee had also extended invitations to the management of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, and the Comptroller-General of Customs, who would also appear before it today (Wednesday).e matter arises.”
He said, “We are guided by the Senate Standing Rule and the 1999 Constitution to invite anybody when th
The senator described as incorrect, an allegation by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, that his committee did not follow due process in the planned probe of Lamorde.
He said, “That (allegation) is not correct. There are ways petitions can come to the Senate. A petitioner can write straight to the Senate President and the President will send it to the appropriate committee that is involved.”
The Senator also described as untrue insinuations from certain quarters that the invitation from the senate was a witch-hunt,done in retaliation for the EFCC invitation handed out to the wife of the Senate President, Toyin Saraki..
Anyanwu said: “I cannot conclude that (Senate action against Lamorde) now because I will be pre-empting what is not available. Let’s wait until tomorrow (Wednesday) to know what the Senate will do if he doesn’t come. He is not summoned, this is an invitation.”
