‘President didn’t starve EFCC of funds,’ Agency denies reports

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied reports that it was starved of funds by outgoing President, Goodluck Jonathan.

The EFCC made the statement after a news outlet quoted its Executive Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde as saying that Jonathan had deprived the agency of funds.

The anti-graft body made the denial via a statement released on Tuesday, May 26, 2015.

The statement reads:

“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to a report in The Sun newspaper of Tuesday, May 26, 2015, entitled, Jonathan Starved EFCC of Funds- Lamorde, in which the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde was quoted as indicting the out-going Jonathan administration of poor performance.”

“The Commission takes exception to this report which is pure fabrication by the author for reason best known to him. In the first place, Lamorde who is currently out of the country did not speak with the media and could not have made the comments attributed to him by The Sun newspapers.”

“The occasion that provided the basis for the false report by The Sun was a media briefing by Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, spokesperson of the EFCC, who addressed more than 40 journalists from over 30 media organizations at the Commission’s monthly media briefing in Abuja on May 25, 2015.”

“At no time during the event did Uwujaren comment on the performance or lack of it, by the Jonathan administration let alone accusing it of poor performance or starving the Commission of funds.”

“It is a great disservice to society when journalists fabricates and twist issues to serve motives that are not altruistic.”

Jonathan is set to hand over to President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2015.