Nigeria's Anti-Corruption Boss, Ibrahim Lamorde, Fired By President Buhari

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has fired the boss of the nation’s anti-corruption agency, Ibrahim Lamorde. No reason was given for removing Lamorde from his post as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, according to BBC News.

Local media reported Lamorde was immediately replaced by Ibrahim Magu, a senior official in the commission’s Economic and Governance Unit, who will apparently serve as acting chairman of the commission. Lamorde took over the anti-corruption agency in November 2011 after chairman Farida Waziri was fired by then-President Goodluck Jonathan.

A Senate committee in August launched a probe into allegations that Lamorde had diverted stolen assets and cash recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Lamorde has denied the claims that $5 billion had gone missing at the commission. The former police officer was scheduled to appear before the Senate committee Tuesday regarding the accusations, according to Naija247 News, a Nigerian online media outlet.

Buhari, a former military ruler, won Nigeria’s presidential elections in March on promises to fight graft in Africa’s largest economy. Since taking office in late May, the 72-year-old leader has taken steps to keep his campaign promise. In August, Buhari named a new managing director to run Nigeria’s state oil firm, sacked its eight executive directors and dissolved the entire corporate board amid corruption allegations.

The latest move comes after Buhari replaced his army, navy, air force and defense chiefs, who had been appointed by former President Jonathan, in an effort to start with a clean slate. A number of officials have been accused of corruption and mismanaging state funds under Jonathan’s watch.