- Earlier three states withdrew their application
The Supreme Court has put off its decision on the lawsuit filed by 19 states challenging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) establishment.
This decision came after all parties involved presented their arguments.
In a surprising twist, Anambra, Adamawa, and Ebonyi states withdrew from the lawsuit on Tuesday, which was initially filed by Kogi State and 18 other states.
The seven-man panel of justices, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, removed the names of the three withdrawing states from the suit after listening to their separate withdrawal applications.
During the proceedings, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, requested and received permission for a reply on a point of law to be considered filed.
Additionally, Nasarawa and Osun states’ Attorneys General applied for consolidation in the suit.
The Kogi State government’s counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, argued that the EFCC Act is flawed because it’s based on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption without following the Constitution’s procedures.
However, the Defendant countered that the law doesn’t mention the United Nations and that Section 15, subsection 5 of the 1999 Constitution supports Nigeria’s efforts to eliminate corruption.
The Defendant also warned that overturning the law would have severe consequences on past decisions.
The Supreme Court will announce its judgment on a later date, leaving the fate of the EFCC’s establishment hanging in the balance.
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