Buhari removes EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, appoints replacement

President Muhammadu Buhari has fired the chairman of the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde.

Mr. Lamorde,a former police officer, was removed Monday, four years after he took over as the chairman of the agency.

He worked earlier as the director of operations before he was appointed head by former President Goodluck Jonathan on November 23, 2011, after former chairperson, Farida Waziri, was removed.

Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Lamorde “was not sacked”, but that he was proceeding on terminal leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure February 2016.

Mr. Adesina said more details would be provided in a statement that would be released shortly.

Beginning a terminal leave means President Buhari has refused Mr. Lamorde a second allowable term at the commission.

Mr. Adesina later issued a statement saying Mr. Buhari has approved the appointment of Ibrahim Mustafa Magu as Acting Chairman of the Commission.

Mr. Magu,  an Assistant Commissioner of Police,  was a former Head of the Economic Governance Unit of the anti-graft agency.