The Supreme Court has dismissed a suit filed by 16 states of Nigeria challenging the legality of the laws establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and two other anti-corruption agencies.
The other agencies are the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
A seven-member panel of justices, in a unanimous judgment today, November 15, held that the suit was unmeritorious.
In the lead judgment by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, the Supreme Court quashed the six issues raised for determination in the suit against the plaintiffs.
The court held that the laws establishing the anti-corruption agencies were validly enacted by the National Assembly within its legislative competence.
It faulted the claim by the plaintiffs that the EFCC Act, being a product of the United Nations convention on corruption, ought to be ratified by majority of the State Houses of Assembly.
Source: Promptnews.
