Supreme Court to hear governors’ suit challenging EFCC establishment October 22 - Ripples Nigeria
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Supreme Court to hear governors’ suit challenging EFCC establishment October 22

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday fixed October 22 for the hearing of a suit filed by state governments challenging the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A seven-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, fixed the date after 16 states were joined as co-plaintiffs in suit marked: SC/CV/178/2023 filed originally by the Kogi State government.

The states that joined in the suit are Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Edo, Edo, Enugu, Jigawa, Kebbi, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau and Sokoto.

The states had in the application argued that the Supreme Court, in Dr. Joseph Nwobike Vs Federal Republic of Nigeria, had held that it was a United Nations 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 stressed that constitution is the supreme law of the land and any law that is inconsistent with it is a nullity.

READ ALSO: EFCC arrests ex-Abia governor, Theodore Orji over alleged corruption

The plaintiffs insisted that the provision of Section 12 must be complied with as far as the establishment of EFCC is concerned.

In Tuesday’s proceeding, lawyers representing the states made their submissions.

Majority of the states sought to be joined as co-plaintiffs while two asked the court to grant an order for consolidation of the case.

After the lawyers made their submissions, Justice Abba-Aji adjourned the matter till October 22 for the hearing of the matter.

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