Nigeria’s anti-corruption (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC) boss, Ibrahim Lamorde, has denied allegations that $5 billion (£3.2 billion) was missing at the commission he heads.

A Senate Committee is investigating charges that assets and cash recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were diverted.

Lamorde told the BBC it was a smear campaign, as the EFCC was prosecuting the man making the allegations.

This showed that the case “should not be taken seriously”.

Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who is championing the investigation, passed the petition by George Uboh, a security consultant.

Uboh is currently fighting charges of stealing government property, which he denies.