The Supreme Court has fixed 22 October to hear a suit filed by 16 state governments challenging the legality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The suit, which was instituted by the Kogi State Government and 15 other states, is contesting the constitutionality of the laws establishing the EFCC and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
A seven-man panel of justices, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, on Tuesday, fixed the date for hearing after the states were joined as co-plaintiffs and leave granted for consolidation of the case in the suit originally filed by the Kogi State Government through its Attorney General (AG).
The 15 other states joined in the suit marked: SC/CV/178/2023, include Ondo, Edo, Oyo, Ogun, Nassarawa, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, Plateau, Cross-River and Niger.
When the case was called, the counsel representing the various states in the matter made their submissions.
While majority sought to be joined as co-plaintiffs, two of the states prayed for an order for consolidation of the case.
Counsel to Kogi State AG, Abdulwahab Mohammed, told the court that there were states that indicated interest in consolidation of the case and those seeking to be joined as co-plaintiffs.
“It is for this honourable court to tell us how to proceed.
“Out of about 15 states, there are about 13 of them that have indicated interest to be co-plaintiffs and only two want consolidation.
“To make the task of the court easier, those who want to be be joined as co-plaintiffs should be joined and abide by the processes already filed and those who sought consolidation should be asked to file within seven days”, Mohammed said.
After the lawyers’ submissions, Justice Abba-Aji granted their prayers and adjourned the matter till 22 October for hearing.
All 16 states in the suit in their reliefs contended that the Constitution is the supreme law and any law that is inconsistent with it is a nullity.
The plaintiffs argued that the Supreme Court, in Dr. Joseph Nwobike vs Federal Republic of Nigeria, had held that it was a United Nation Convention against corruption that was reduced into the EFCC Establishment Act and that in enacting this law in 2004, the provision of Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, was not followed.
They argued that in bringing a convention into the Nigerian law, the provision of Section 12 must be complied with.
According to plaintiffs, the provision of the Constitution necessitated the majority of the states’ Houses of Assembly agreeing to bringing the convention in before passing the EFCC Act and others, which was allegedly never done.
The argument of the states in their present suit, which had reportedly been corroborated by the Supreme Court in the previous case mentioned, is that the law, as enacted, could not be applied to states that never approved of it, in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.
Hence, they argued that any institution so formed should be regarded as an illegal institution.
The Kogi State AG had, in the suit number: SC/CV/178/2023 sued the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as sole defendant.
In the originating summons filed by a team of lawyers led by Prof .Musa Yakubu, the state raised six questions for determination and sought nine reliefs.
Among the reliefs sought are, “A declaration that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit or any agency of the Federal Government lacks the power to issue any directive, guideline, advisory or any instrument, howsoever called for the administration and management of funds belonging to Kogi State of Nigeria or any Local Government Area of Kogi State.
“A declaration that the EFCC, the NFIU, or any agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria cannot investigate, requisition documents, invite and or arrest anyone with respect to offences arising from or touching on the administration and management of funds belonging to Kogi State of Nigeria or any Local Government Area of Kogi State”.
