A rented crowd claiming to be representatives of civil society organizations under the aegis of Coalition of Civil Liberties and Equity today attempted to stage a “protest”, calling for the removal of the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde.

The group hinged its demand for Lamorde’s removal on alleged bias in the investigation and prosecution of Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa state and Steve Oronsaye, former Head of Service of the Federation.

Spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren decried the attempt by the amorphous group to mislead Nigerians and distract the agency.

“My sincere advice to Nigerians is to ignore this so called CSOs. We should not allow a group of misguided elements to assault our collective sensibilities with a choreographed protest paid for by corrupt persons being prosecuted by the EFCC. The era when Nigerians were easily deceived by rented crowd is over. Any discerning mind can see through the selfish motive of the group. Why is it that, they did not see any reason to call for the removal of Lamorde all these years until he moved against their patrons? What is bias in charging a person indicted by a corruption investigation to court? Is Lamido or Oronsaye saying that they are innocent of the charges levied against them by the EFCC? Instead of visiting the indignity of the spectacle of rented CSOs on the nation, they should go and face their trial in court,” the EFCC spokesperson said.

Lamido and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha alongside one Aminu Wada Abubakar are being prosecuted by the EFCC on 28-count charge of corruption and money laundering.

They were arraigned alongside four companies: Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamiana Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminum Limited and Speeds International Limited.

Lamido is said to have abused his position as governor of Jigawa State between 2007 and 2015, by awarding contracts to companies where he had interest, using his two sons, as fronts.

Oronsaye, and two others are facing a 24-count charge bordering on stealing and obtaining money by false pretence. The former Head of Service, who is alleged to have been complicit in several contract awards during his tenure as HoS ,was charged along with Osarenkhoe Afe. They are alleged to have committed biometrics enrolment fraud to the tune of N2 billion.