Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has described the death of Ibrahim Lamorde, a former chairman of the anti-corruption agency as a colossal loss to the nation.
Lamorde, aged 61 and third Executive Chairman of EFCC died on Sunday morning in Egypt, where he had travelled for medical treatment. He was buried on Tuesday after a funeral prayer at the National Mosque, Abuja.
Olukoyede in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, described the late former chairman of EFCC as “a refined officer, disciplined, unassuming, amiable, compassionate, but professional.”
He said the footprint of the late Lamorde in the police and EFCC would remain indelible.
According to him, the commission’s story cannot be told without a reference to Lamorde, who invested his talent as an investigator in setting up the investigation machinery and mentoring the corps of officers who have become the spine of the commission’s investigative activities.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police and one of my predecessors as executive chairman of EFCC, between 2012 and 2015.
“The loss of this distinguished law enforcement officer whose ideals and accomplishments we have long respected, is painful, coming at a time when the EFCC and indeed Nigeria still needed his wealth of experience to deal with emerging challenges in the law enforcement environment.
“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 described Lamorde as a reformist, whose legacy in the commission included the establishment of the professional responsibility arm of the commission and the Department of Internal Affairs, later renamed Department of Ethics and Integrity.
He also established the Department of Public Affairs to drive the commission’s corruption prevention mandate.
“Lamorde also renamed EFCC’s Training and Research Institute, Karu, as the EFCC Academy, with an expanded mandate to train all cadres 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,” he said.
Olukoyede commiserated with Lamorde’s family, noting that the commission felt the death of the former chairman of EFCC.
“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,” he added.
The EFCC chairman added that Lamorde’s lifetime as a police officer and statesman in service will remain “a legacy of inspiration to all”. (NAN)