Senate falls into disarray over Lamorde

The rivalry between Senators in the Unity Forum loyal to Senator Ahmed Lawan, and those loyal to Senate President, Bukola Saraki came to the fore again yesterday over the move by the upper house to probe alleged failure of the EFCC to remit about N1 trillion recovered from corrupt former leaders.
While Senators under the Unity Forum made up of APC lawmakers opposed the probe, which they said was illegal and a breach of the Senate’s Standing Orders, Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio also wrote a letter to the National Assembly leadership, dissociating himself and other PDP senators from the probe of the anti-graft Agency.
There was also a dramatic twist to the probe revelations were made that the chairman of EFCC. Ibrahim Lamorde also failed to remit N2.051 trillion to the federation account.
Akpabio said in a four-paragraph letter, which was jointly signed by the PDP Senate caucus leaders that it was inappropriate for the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led committee to invite Lamorde to appear before it, since such steps in the past did not produce any result.
The Unity Forum statement was jointly signed by Senator Lawan, Senator George Akume , Senator Abu Ibrahim and Senator Barnabas Gemade.

Read also: Senate Committee walks out EFCC reps

Before yesterday’s fight erupted, the Lawan and Saraki camps had mellowed down on their differences.
Senator Lawan was the preferred candidate of the APC for the Senate Presidency but Saraki joined forces with senators of the PDP to clinch the position on June 9 when the National Assembly was inaugurated.
The hearing that saw the petitioner defending his allegation against Lamorde was attended by eight senators, including Senator Samuel Anyanwu who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Petitions.
Read the Unity Forum statement below:

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