The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has condoled with the family of the agency’s third substantive Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, who died in Egypt on Sunday at 61.
Responding to the news of ex-chairman death, in a statement on Sunday, the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, said the EFCC received the news of his death with shock.
Oyewale said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission received with shock the sudden death of one of its former Executive Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde.
“Lamorde, pioneer Director of Operations and third substantive Chairman of the EFCC between February 15, 2012 and November 9, 2015, served the nation actively as a focused and gallant anti- graft fighter.
“He will be sorely missed both at the EFCC and the nation at large. The Ccommission prays for the repose of his soul and comfort for his family, the EFCC and the entire nation.”
Born on 20 December 1962, Mr Lamorde joined the Nigerian Police in 1986 and retired as a Deputy Inspector General of Police in 2021.
While being a police officer, he served as the Chairman of the EFCC between 2011 and 2015.
According to his profile on the EFCC’s website, Lamorde was the third Executive Chairman of the Commission.
He was appointed in an acting capacity as Chairman of the Commission on 3 November 2011 following the removal of Farida Waziri by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He was subsequently confirmed as the third substantive Chairman of the Commission by the Senate on 15 February 2012.
Lamorde, who was born on December 20, 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. When the EFCC was created in 2003, Lamorde was made the pioneer Director of Operations. In December 2007, he took over as Acting Chairman in January 2008, holding the position until Mrs Waziri was appointed Chairperson and confirmed by the Senate in June 2008. In December 2010, Mr Lamorde returned to the EFCC, again as Director of Operations to replace Stephen Otitoju, the then Acting Director of Operations.
When Mrs Waziri was replaced on 23 November 2011, Mr Lamorde, then an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), was again appointed Acting Chairman.
He was confirmed as substantive Chairman of the EFCC on 15 February 2012, a position he held till November 9, 2015, when former President Muhammadu Buhari replaced him with Ibrahim Magu, as the EFCC Chairman in an acting capacity.