By Umar Muhammad Puma
The House of Representatives Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes has advised the Chairman of the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde not to allow himself to be used for political vendetta.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Jagaba Adams Jagaba who gave the advise at the 2014 budget defence before the Commission, told the EFCC Chairman to do things rightly, and never allow himself or the commission to be used to witch-hurt anyone, irrespective of his party. “EFCC cannot afford to lose the reputation it had so far gathered,” ne said.
Jagaba also tasked the Commission on personnel training, especially its civilian staff as a way of forestalling paucity of experienced staff members in the event that the supporting personnel from the country’s security agencies are withdrawn from the Commission.
He expressed satisfaction with the performance of the EFCC under Lamorde, saying the committee would liaise with its Senate’s counterpart to ensure urgent completion of the Commission’s headquarters.
Earlier in his presentation, Lamorde disclosed that the Commission is currently using seven rented facilities located at different areas of the FCT, thereby increasing its burden of utility Bills. He also appealled for the support of the committee for speedy completion of the headquarters.
He explained that its proposed estimate of N21.06 billion was reduced to N10.25 billion by the Budget Office, leaving a difference of N10.81 billion.
According to him, the headquarters project was awarded at N18.9 billion, but that total payment as at 25th February, 2014 stood at N9.48 billion, adding that while 2014 was the anticipated year of completion, the budget office only allocated the sum of N1.2 billion for the project.
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