Implications of Supreme Court Dismissal of Suit Against EFCC
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed a suit filed by various state Attorneys General challenging the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act.
The plaintiffs, which included several state governments, argued that the EFCC Act violated the constitution by not securing the approval of a majority of state Houses of Assembly before incorporating certain international conventions.
However, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, ruled that the National Assembly has the constitutional authority to legislate on matters related to corruption, and that the EFCC, as established under the Act, has the power to investigate and prosecute cases of corruption across all states.
The court also upheld the role of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) in overseeing the management of state funds, affirming the legitimacy and scope of the EFCC’s operations.