Arase, Mohammed say Lamorde’s demise monumental loss

‘EFCC former boss helped with P&ID case’

Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr Solomon Arase, and former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed have described the demise of Ibrahim Larmode as a monumental loss.

Head Media and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, quoted Arase as saying: “The Chairman of PSC, Arase, a retired Inspector General of Police (IGP), has received with shock the death of DIG Ibrahim Lamorde (rtd), former Chairman of EFCC, who passed on at the age of 61 in Egypt, where he was receiving medical attention.”

Concurring with Arase, former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said in the wake of the Process & Industrial Development (P&ID) case, Lamorde displayed “enormous institutional memory” that greatly helped the country.

EFCC has confirmed the demise of Lamorde yesterday morning in an Egyptian hospital of a yet-to-be-disclosed ailment.

Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Dele Oyewole, said: “Yes we are aware of his demise. I have just issued a statement to that effect.

Lamorde was the pioneer Director of Operations and third substantive Chairman of EFCC between February 15, 2012 and November 9, 2015.

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

Born in 1962, Lamorde joined the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in 1986 and retired as DIG in 2021. He hails from Mubi in Adamawa State.

The former minister described Lamorde’s death as a huge loss not only to his family and colleagues but to the nation in general.

“Our paths crossed when, as the Minister of Information and Culture, I, along with other top functionaries of government, embarked on advocacy to the international media, think tanks and other influential groups, in the wake of the legal tussle between the Federal Government and P&ID in London.

“Though he wasn’t the EFCC Chairman then, Lamorde displayed enormous institutional memory that greatly benefited the nation during that unfortunate incident. He was clear-headed and shared the same vision with me that the P&ID saga would not only be won in the court of law but also in the court of public opinion.”

According to Mohammed, Lamorde’s contribution in drafting the country’s talking points and articulating the country’s positions were instrumental in the engagement with the media or various think tanks in London on the P&ID case.

He added: “His keen insights, deep institutional knowledge, and strategic acumen ensured that our messages were clear, impactful and aligned with national interests.”