As far as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the war against economic crime and corruption in Nigeria is concerned, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde remains an iconic figure. At every turn in the short history of the agency, his name crops up. In the formative years of the Commission, he was the valiant “heart” of the Commission and the rallying point in the partnership between the EFCC and its strategic allies. He is the only one to have twice served as Director of Operations and Acting Chairman of the agency. A member of the pioneer officers drafted from the Nigeria Police that midwife the EFCC in 2003 under the leadership of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Lamorde is a thorough bred professional with vast experience in fraud investigation spanning more than two decades. He is an epitome of discipline, hard work, and greatly admired by many for his warmth and geniality. Born on the 20th of December, 1962 in Mubi, Adamawa State of Nigeria, Mr. Lamorde took an honours degree from the Ahmadu Bello University in 1984. He did his mandatory National Youth Service (N.Y.S.C) 1984 – 1985, and enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Officer on 1st January, 1986. After the successful completion of cadet officers training, he passed out as an Assistant Superintendent of Police in July 1987. He did a one year probation period, after which he was confirmed as a substantive Assistant Superintendent of Police. He served as a Divisional Crime Officer 1988 – 1989 and later as a Police Public Relations Officer from 1989 to 1993. In 1993, the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force was created and he was drafted as one of the pioneer officers. He served in the SFU from 1993 to 2002.
While he was with the SFU, he was drafted to serve with the United Nations Civilian Police in East Timor from March 2000 to March 2001. He served as the Chief Investigation Officer of Ermera District of East Timor. In September 2002, he was transferred to Oyo State of Nigeria, where he served as Divisional Police Officer, until April 2003. On the creation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he was seconded to serve as the Director of Operations from April 2003 to December, 2007. He was appointed the Ag. Chairman of the EFCC in January, 2008 to May, 2008. He was recalled back to the Nigeria Police and posted to the Area Command in Ningi, Bauchi State as the Area Commander from June, 2008 to November 2008. He was later redeployed to the Bauchi State Police Command, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as the Officer -in -Charge. In December 2010, he earned a recall to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as Director of Operations. He held that position until his appointment as the Ag. Chairman of the EFCC on Wednesday, November 23, 2011. Mr. Lamorde has worked closely with other government law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Metropolitan Police, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Secret Service, Internet Crime Complaints Centre (IC3), Dutch Police, German Police, South African Police, etc. He has supervised the prosecution of 522 Advance Fee Fraud related cases at various High Courts all over Nigeria between April 2003 and June 2008. 253 of the cases were successfully prosecuted and convictions secured, including the extradition of 3 fugitives to the United States. Mr. Lamorde being the pioneer Director of Operations of EFCC has greatly helped to change public perception of law enforcement, locally and internationally. He has also helped in fostering international law enforcement cooperation in the country. He has attended several courses, seminars and workshops on corruption, Advance Fee Fraud and other economic and financial crimes in the UK, USA, Germany, France, South Africa, Singapore, etc. In 2005, he attended a course on law enforcement at Harvard University. Mr. Lamorde holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Masters Degree in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from the Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria. He also holds a membership of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
Mr. Lamorde is presently an Assistant Commissioner of Police and is married with children.
