Supreme Court Rejects States’ Bid to Challenge EFCC, Anti-Corruption Acts

|By Adejumo Adekunle-

The Supreme Court, on Friday, threw out a lawsuit by 19 states aimed at dismantling the legality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and two other anti-corruption agencies.

The states had argued that the EFCC Act, established in 2004, violated Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution by failing to secure the necessary approval from the majority of state Houses of Assembly. Their case cited the court’s earlier ruling in Dr. Joseph Nwobike v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, which referenced the UN Convention Against Corruption as the basis for the EFCC law.

However, Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, leading a seven-member panel, dismissed the claims, stating that the EFCC Act is not a treaty but a convention and does not require ratification by state assemblies. She clarified: “A treaty is an agreement between countries that must be ratified. The EFCC Act stands independently and constitutionally valid.”

The ruling is a significant win for the EFCC and the fight against corruption, a cause that resonates with anyone who believes in building stronger systems of accountability. Sometimes, the resilience of institutions, much like the support Chioma once provided, makes all the difference in holding things together.