Tinubu, Olukoyede, others mourn as ex-EFCC chairman, Lamorde, dies at 61

Eminent personalities within the security circle, on Sunday, poured their tributes following the demise of a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde.

Among those that mourned Lamorde, a retired police officer, who was said to have died in Cairo, Egypt’s capital, after he battled an undisclosed illness include the current Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, and the Chairman of PSC.

Lamorde, the retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, died at the age 61 in Egypt where he was receiving medical treatment.

A former EFCC official, who doesn’t want his name in print, told Daily Trust on Sunday morning that his remains would be buried according to Islamic rites.

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Lamorde served as the third Executive Chairman of the EFCC between 2011 and 2015. He was first appointed in an acting capacity in November 2011 after his predecessor, Farida Waziri, was removed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He was confirmed as the substantive chairman of the commission by the Senate on February 15, 2012.

Lamorde, who was born on 20 December 1962 in Mubi, Adamawa State, attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology in 1984. He joined the Nigerian Police Force in 1986.

The deceased was the pioneer Director of Operations of the EFCC when the anti-graft agency was established in 2003 and acted as acting chairman until Waziri was appointed and confirmed by the Senate in June 2008.

Lamorde returned to the EFCC as Director of Operations in December 2010 to replace Stephen Otitoju, the then Acting Director of Operations.

Reacting to his demise, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condoled with the family of Lamorde.

The president also commiserated with the associates of the former anti-graft czar, the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, as well as the government and people of Adamawa State.

President Tinubu prayed to God Almighty to grant repose to the soul of the deceased and comfort for his family.

While reacting, the Chairman of EFCC, Olukoyede, said the anti-graft agency received the news of Lamorde’s death with a rude shock, saying he would be sorely missed by both the EFCC and the nation at large.

Olukoyede, who spoke through Dele Oyewale, the spokesman of the commission, said, “He served the nation actively as a focused and gallant anti-graft fighter. The commission prays for the repose of his soul and comfort for his family, the EFCC and the entire nation.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, described the deceased as an iconic police veteran, whose death he was shocked to hear about.

Arase noted that at no time did power get into the head of the late officer who, according to him, remained humble and committed throughout his career.

“The training he got at NIPSS prepared him for the greater policing challenges he faced as he climbed the ladder of success,” the former Inspector General of Police said.

The PSC chairman said the nation has lost one of its bright and consummate intelligence officers who contributed immensely to the growth of intelligence policing in Nigeria.