The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, fixed October 22 for the hearing of a suit filed by no fewer than 16 state governments challenging the constitutionality of the laws establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and two others.
A seven-man panel of justices, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, fixed the date after the states were joined as co-plaintiffs and leave was granted for the consolidation of the case in the suit originally filed by the Kogi State government through its Attorney General (AG).
The states that joined in the suit, marked SC/CV/178/2023, include Ondo, Edo, Oyo, Ogun, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, Plateau, Cross River, and Niger.
The 16 states are relying on the argument that the constitution is the supreme law, and any law that is inconsistent with it is a nullity.
The plaintiffs argued that the Supreme Court, in Dr. Joseph Nwobike vs. Federal Republic of Nigeria, had held that the United Nations Convention against Corruption was reduced into the EFCC Establishment Act, and that in enacting this law in 2004, the provisions of Section 12 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, were not followed.
The argument was that, in bringing a convention into Nigerian law, the provisions of Section 12 must be complied with.
According to them, the constitution necessitated the majority of the states’ Houses of Assembly agreeing to bring the convention into law before passing the EFCC Act and others, which was allegedly never done.
The argument of the states in their present suit, which had reportedly been corroborated by the Supreme Court in the previous case mentioned, is that the law, as enacted, could not be applied to states that never approved of it, in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.
Hence, they argued that any institution so formed should be considered as illegal.
When the case was called on Tuesday, the lawyers representing the states made their submissions.
While the majority sought to be joined as co-plaintiffs, two of the states prayed for an order of consolidation of the case.
Kogi State AG’s counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), informed the court that there were states indicating interest in consolidating the case and those seeking to be joined as co-plaintiffs.
“It is for this honorable court to tell us how to proceed, my lord.
“Out of about 15 states, there are about 13 that have indicated interest to be co-plaintiffs and only two want consolidation.
“To make the task of the court easier, those who want to be joined as co-plaintiffs should be joined and abide by the processes already filed, and those who seek consolidation should be asked to file within seven days,” Mohammed said.
After the lawyers’ submissions, Justice Abba-Aji granted their prayers.
She admitted the matter until October 22 for hearing.
The Kogi State AG had, in suit number SC/CV/178/2023, sued the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as the sole defendant.
In the originating summons filed by a team of lawyers led by Prof. Musa Yakubu (SAN), the state raised six questions for determination and sought nine reliefs.
Among the reliefs sought are: “A declaration that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) or any agency of the Federal Government lacks the power to issue any directive, guideline, advisory, or any instrument howsoever called for the administration and management of funds belonging to Kogi State of Nigeria or any Local Government Area of Kogi State.
“A declaration that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), or any agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria cannot investigate, requisition documents, invite, and/or arrest anyone with respect to offences arising from or touching on the administration and management of funds belonging to Kogi State of Nigeria or any local government area of Kogi State.”
